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Blowing away the smoke AND BREAKING THE MIRRORS
are not particularly interested in how or why it is done as long as the savings are achieved. If energy savings initiatives can be simply
demonstrated and proved to save some cold hard cash, why wouldn’t they implement it? Should this alter the way we engage and advise this new, potentially huge client base?
Building & Energy Management Systems don’t have to be complicated. Here Simon Bowe Director at Cura Energydemystifies the often complex perception of BMS & EMS and how to get the most out of these systems
Q
uite often you hear the phrase ‘smoke and mirrors’ to describe a BMS (Building
Management System) or Energy Management Systems where the client has no idea or understanding of what he has just paid for. You may quite rightly say he doesn’t need to know the detail as long as it meets the specification? You may have supplied and installed a fantastic project which was on time, budget and to specification but does it actually deliver what the client needs and can he operate it going forward? In the designers’ eyes, it might have some
innovative software or components but does that enhance the final project or simply over complicate it for the buildings future operation and maintenance? Often systems are over engineered or have far too complex software and structure to suit the building. When these systems break down, it should be the clients main priority to get them operational again to minimise the effect on the energy saving. If the client is not aware he has a problem or simply does not realise the impact of overriding plant or equipment as a quick fix, the savings are often lost permanently. The majority of energy overuse in a
building post completion (assuming it has been commissioned correctly) is through manual intervention though overridden plant due to lack of understanding. Improve the understanding and provide useful information quickly.
10 AUTUMN 2015 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT Figure 1:
Integrating a simple BMS or EMS system that is suited to the building application is an effective way of achieving both energy efficiency and cost saving benefits
It’s pointless installing a complex BEMS,
Lighting or Energy Management System if the client can’t operate it or get a benefit from it. Get back to basics, what does the client
actually need, what is the best way for them to interact with the system and can they operate it going forward?
ESOS- A NEW BREED OF CLIENT With the advent of ESOS, the industry is coming into contact with a new demographic of client who are being forced to engage with our industry and services, rather than by choice. We should recognise this difference and use the opportunity to present our findings, recommendations and solutions in a clear and straightforward manner to engage them. The responsible point of contact within these organisations is not usually a technical engineer or consultant who appreciate the intricacies of their buildings operation, they simply know they need to comply with legislation or face a large fine! To change that mindset requires thought in what the energy reduction recommendations are and their complexity, technically and in their delivery. Energy reduction recommendations and the associated cost savings will have a better chance of being implemented if the client can understand the basic principles and benefits of them. The bottom line for clients is they want to reduce their energy usage and costs. They
SIMPLE IS OFTEN BEST New, reliable technology means systems to control and monitor buildings are more readily available and cost effective than ever. Remote access to a buildings data should be a given allowing better building management and efficiency. Apps, tablets and smartphones are part of normal daily life so something as important as energy use should be available on them as standard and easily accessible. Unfortunately a large number of installed control and monitoring systems are either switched off, under used or simply not understood after a considerable capital investment. This should not be the case. Rather than offer a system which is never
used, on a PC in an office buried within a building, give the client something he can use every day and integrate it into their operational processes. Today you can easily sub meter an entire
buildings energy consumption using the wide range of technology readily available which is easy to install. It’s simple, cost effective and provides valuable information for ongoing energy management enabling the client to engage employees, increase awareness and save money. It additionally provides actual energy consumption data for ESOS. The same applies to BEMS, it doesn’t have to be an expensive option, only understood by an engineer in front of a laptop who is called in when things go wrong. It’s not about the number of ‘points’ a BEMS system has, it’s about whether those ‘points’ improve the buildings performance or are simply superfluous and an over-complication. Sub Metering systems and simple BEMS can easily be retro-fitted into existing buildings where the client can achieve some staggering energy cost savings with minimal outlay or disruption. Measuring, controlling and displaying a
buildings performance should be a pre-requisite when recommending new energy saving measures. Without these simple principles in place, all the good work could be lost.
Cura Energy
www.curaenergy.co.uk 01634 820783
/ ENERGYMANAGEMENT
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