Maximising the benefits of a BMS
With the key to the effective use of a building-management system being the effective collection, monitoring and targeting of data to analyse usage, eSight Energy’s eSight software provides an effective solution. Collected information is automatically composed by the software at defined intervals, ensuring that up-to-date readings are available to users and can be analysed and reacted to quickly if necessary.
According to the Carbon Trust, a well controlled commercial building can be over 30% more efficient than one with no controls. However, in reality about 90% of all building control systems are inadequate — costing industry and commerce over £500 million a year in additional energy costs.
The main problem is that although more and more BMSs are being installed into building developments, there is often no means of collecting, monitoring and targeting the data to analyse usage and, ultimately, reduce consumption and save money.
An example of what can be achieved is Carlsberg, the UK’s fourth largest brewer. Using a range of analyses that include performance, consumption and baseload analysis, as well as alarms and hourly updating dashboards, Carlsberg reduced site water consumption by 10%, reduced effluent costs by 16% and overall energy consumption by 10%. The savings were very significant, with a rapid return on investment.
To encourage staff, clients and customers to get involved in the cause; energy-management software can provide features such as dashboards to display analysis graphs and alarms on one screen in a user-friendly format.
For larger companies with multiple site, league tables are an effective way of encouraging staff to reduce energy consumption. Software can calculate how much energy each site has saved over a given period relative to the size and demands of that site so that organisations can acknowledge high-achieving teams and promote healthy competition to reduce energy usage.
