With rising energy costs and a focus on sustainability, reducing energy use is now a top priority for many businesses. Additionally, stricter regulations for energy monitoring in commercial buildings require more compliance and reporting.
Intelligent buildings can play a key role in this, but the prospect of investing in the technology needed can feel overwhelming. How do you know what’s right for your business and where should you start?
This article looks at the initial quick wins you can take as well as the bigger changes you may want to make over time.
What can I do right now?
If you’re a facilities manager in an organisation that’s already trying to make cost savings, the idea of creating a fully intelligent building may not feel like a reality right now. But there are simple steps you can take to move in that direction, and they need not cost a fortune.
Assess the current picture
Energy is undeniably one of the largest controllable overheads in an office space, so getting to grips with current patterns of use is a crucial first step in any efforts to make reductions.
Installing smart sensors can be a great way to get the overall picture of what’s happening where, and to monitor the impact of any changes.
Wireless energy monitors like Pressac’s CT clamps simply clip around the live electricity cables and send their data wirelessly to your chosen analytics platform.
Tackle your biggest energy consumers
Data from The Carbon Trust[1] Energy Star or European Commission shows that the areas where the greatest savings can usually be found are:
- HVAC systems are the largest energy consumers in office buildings, accounting for around 40% of total energy use.
- Lighting represents approx. 20-30% of the office’s energy bill
- Office equipment: printers, computers and other equipment which contribute 15-20% to the energy use
Clearly, this will vary from one office to another, but looking at these areas first is likely to help you make the biggest savings.
There are several low or no-cost solutions in each of these areas that all businesses can take to get started on their energy-saving journey:
- Lighting: Replacing faulty or flickering lights with LED bulbs can reduce energy usage by up to 85%, while ensuring that windows, skylights and light fittings are kept clean can reduce the need for artificial light.
You could also consider introducing occupancy sensors which can provide information on when a room is in use. This data can be linked to local controls to ensure lights are turned off when no one is present.
- HVAC: Ensuring that thermostats are set to appropriate temperatures can make a big difference. Reducing temperatures by just 1C cuts fuel consumption by 8%. Speak to staff about their comfort levels – they can help you identify areas that are over-heated or over-cooled.
- Office equipment: Ensure equipment that’s not in use is always switched off – make sure staff at all levels are brought into this and understand the importance of seemingly small savings when multiplied across the whole business.
Energy monitoring sensors can also help identify machinery that is using an unusually high amount of power, helping to spot potential faults or breakdowns before they occur.
Occupancy sensors can also help ensure that rooms are not being cooled or heated unnecessarily. Door and window sensors can detect areas where heat may be escaping, or can be linked to HVAC systems to ensure they switch-off if a window is open.
Over time, you may consider using the data to begin to automate systems, so that lighting, heating, ventilation etc operate on a demand-driven basis.
Pressac’s sensors are system-agnostic (not tied to any one platform) meaning your options are open when/if you decide to integrate them into a larger system. They transmit their data wirelessly via MQTT, a common Internet of Things protocol.
You can read more here about how Cavendish Engineers used our sensors to create a fully-automated system for a central London office complex, resulting in a 42% reduction in air handling, a 15% reduction in gas consumption and a 10% reduction in electricity consumption in its first two years.
A gradual migration, not a giant step
It’s clear that energy saving will be high on the priority list for many facilities managers right now but the prospect of a fully-automated intelligent building is not likely to be a reality for many.
It’s important to remember that the move towards a more efficient, sustainable office building can be a gradual one. Small steps can make a big difference and need not cost a fortune.
Introducing smart sensors can be a really effective first step, enabling you to measure and monitor, and perhaps begin by automating local controls.
If you’d like more advice and guidance on energy monitoring contact our advisors who can talk you through the best options for your organisation.
