The importance of caring for the environment has become a top priority both around the world and increasingly in the United States. As regulations and social expectations become more stringent, future-proofing our infrastructure - beginning with energy consumption in buildings - is a natural first step.
There are four key strategies a building owner or facility manager can focus on to improve energy efficiency and reduce a building’s carbon footprint, all while improving building performance:
Retrofit control solutions
Upgrade HVAC controls – No matter the size of the building, there are opportunities to optimize HVAC equipment through better control. With millions of aging, inefficient rooftop units (RTUs) in the United States, a simple retrofit control solution is budget-friendly for a building owner, while proving easy for contractors to install and manage. Retrofit control solutions are an easy way for small or low complexity buildings to improve performance.
Retrofit control solutions are an easy way for small or low complexity buildings to improve performance
For larger building systems, controllers newly available to the market have more processing power and flexibility to adapt to new and unique system configurations. Motion sensors enable room level automation and improve efficiency when spaces are vacant, turning off lighting and altering room temperature settings to reduce unnecessary energy use.
Connected lighting and shade control also delivers efficiency gains by effectively harnessing the building’s natural environment. Bull Valley Country Club and Bangor Savings Bank are just two examples that are ‘seeing green,’ with new approaches to RTU equipment and room optimization.
Better project specifications
Adopt standardized HVAC control sequences – As every building developed is unique, it is more difficult to carry efficiency knowledge from project to project. Uniform sequences of operation help maximize energy efficiency and performance in a building's HVAC system. ASHRAE published Guideline 36 that helps engineers deliver better project specifications for building systems.
Guideline 36 provides a good balance of energy optimization through a combination of different ASHRAE specs that a manufacturer should meet including ASHRAE 90.1 for energy optimization, ASHRAE 55 for comfort standards, and ASHRAE 62.1 on indoor air quality (IAQ). Guideline 36 enables manufacturers to develop and test applications to deliver proven solutions for optimized HVAC efficiency.
| ASHRAE published Guideline 36 that helps engineers deliver better project specifications |
Balance energy consumption
Improve building performance visibility with BAS – Monitoring electrical power, combined with a building automation system (BAS), helps to balance energy consumption while ensuring occupant comfort. Fully integrated building management systems provide easy visualization of energy consumption trends and mitigate costly problems.
HVAC scheduling through a BAS can also reduce energy consumption by coordinating the use of heating, ventilation and air conditioning to synchronize with tenant occupancy schedules. By integrating schedules and calendars, the BAS can automatically adjust HVAC, lighting, and shades to accommodate areas when they are used, but turn off energy use when they are not.
Beyond dashboards and graphics lies a wealth of actionable insight
For those buildings that have a BAS in place, how that data is used after it is collected is an equally important step to optimizing performance and energy efficiency. Beyond dashboards and graphics lies a wealth of actionable insight. For instance, building data can be exported into a cloud-based fault detection and diagnostic (FDD) program to add an additional layer of usefulness.
Predictive fault detection
Predictive fault detection and reactive visualization provide alerts to end-users through rule-based parameters that help to counter-balance potential threats before a problem occurs. As smart buildings continue to move down a path to becoming autonomous, the more building data points there are, the more that data can be applied to improve the comfort, productivity, and energy efficiency of that building through Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Although we are just beginning to scratch the surface on how we may apply AI to buildings fully, using building data will empower real-time insights to make actionable adjustments to its system components. Improving how building data is managed does not have to be a daunting project. For example, having the right insights allowed the Renasant Convention Center to reduce chilled water usage while adding square footage and thermal load.
HVAC energy consumption
Hydronic flow optimization is a prime way to reduce HVAC energy consumption by up to 30%
Use the right valves for precise control in hydronic systems – Hydronic flow optimization is a prime way to reduce HVAC energy consumption by up to 30%, while increasing building efficiency, operational performance and overall comfort. Pressure independent control valves have greater control accuracy and simplify regulating flow, which prevents over-and under-supply of heating or cooling energy.
With no shortage of strategies at hand, improving building performance and efficiency is a step not to be overlooked on the path to decarbonization. As a building owner, it is important to partner with a solutions provider that can help you unlock the true potential of your property.
Controlling energy usage
Look for a provider that is highly knowledgeable about building efficiency and has access to the full breadth of hardware and software to create a complete solution. This way, they can deliver the complete mix of devices and technology you need to monitor and control energy usage, optimize HVAC equipment, and reduce energy costs to transform your building into an asset rather than a liability.
With approaches adapted to a building’s unique lifecycle, supported by reliable HVAC devices, automation controls, and software solutions, you can turn your building into a green machine that is energy efficient and high performing, without compromising on comfort or occupant satisfaction.