BUILDING CONTROLS & TECHNOLOGY Bright future for building controls
BCIA President Graeme Rees provides an update on the continued growth of the BEMS sector and discusses with GemServ, an industry partner, the role building controls will play in making the buildings of the future truly smart
W
e are well and truly into an era where smart buildings are becoming a reality, and the smart technology that goes into them is less often a gimmick-fuelled
pipedream, but part of an interconnected system that works together to reduce energy consumption and create a safer and more comfortable environment in which to work and live. The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) exists to create healthy buildings, through building controls systems. Publicly owned or private, commercial, industrial or residential from airport to zoo, hotel to hospital, shopping centre to school, all buildings contribute to our carbon emissions and it is perfectly clear controls play an essential role in delivering on the UK Government’s carbon reduction commitment. However, building controls are not adequately mandated by legislation as a core component of new developments or refurbishment/retrofit. This makes it easier for developers and end- users to ‘value engineer’ a Building Energy Management System (BEMS). Working with our members and strategic partners, such as the Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA) and consultancy firm GemServ, the BCIA is trying to establish ways that building controls solutions can be promoted toward influential end-user and intermediary audiences as well as policy makers, so that the fiscal and softer benefits of controls are understood and buildings will become ‘smarter’ as a result. Currently, the value add of a BEMS, and the quantifiable outcomes, are not widely understood. However, Will Hargreaves, policy and insight consultant at Gemserv, believes this will soon change, commenting: “With the largest building energy policy changes for many years upcoming for the buildings sector - through the implementation of the Future Buildings Standard and Future Homes Standard - a significant opportunity exists for policy and regulation to capitalise on the benefits of building controls. Our commitment lies in helping businesses to align the policy landscape with their commercial and strategic objectives, creating an environment for achieving their business goals.”
Perfectly in tune
I have often said that when implemented well, good building controls go unnoticed – but maybe that is what really constitutes a smart building. Maybe it’s less about technical systems and interactions and more that the environment is so perfectly in tune with the occupants’ needs that not a moment of their thought goes to it and instead they are left to focus entirely on their activities. There is limited awareness of building controls as a solution, and without clearer policy mandates, the rationale for investing in BEMS isn’t always recognised with solutions often being at risk of being pared back as construction projects progress. Gemserv is committed to helping
organisations to both understand and shape the policy and regulative framework. Mr Hargreaves explains the growing popularity of smart buildings: “As we journey towards Net Zero emissions with energy prices still high, stakeholders are starting to realise the substantial benefits of smart buildings and controls, which can save energy, money and reduce carbon emissions. Technology will undoubtedly play a big role in improving building efficiency, ensuring occupants are comfortable and providing users with important insights into building performance.”
Upward trend
As the market for smart buildings evolves, the building controls industry is seeing consistent and unprecedented growth, with energy efficiency one of the key drivers. On a quarterly basis the BCIA’s Market
Information Service (MIS) is produced for our members, highlighting trends, market growth and segmentation in the BEMS industry. They provide a robust source of market intelligence and enable BCIA members to remain informed, prepared, and in a position to grow the building controls market. The annual report for 2022 estimated that the BEMS sector is now worth around £835.8 million to the UK economy, representing an increase of 8.0% from the 2021 figure. The continuing growth trajectory for the sector is hopefully a sign of growing awareness for the value of building controls in contributing to better management of energy efficiency in buildings. However, there is still some way to go before it is fully acknowledged just how far building controls can go in helping to make buildings smart. Mr Hargreaves is also firm in his belief that
6 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER NOVEMBER 2023
the role of smart buildings is only going to get bigger as we move forward, adding: “Smart buildings and controls will be key contributors for accelerating electrification, digitalisation, and grid decarbonisation, as well as supporting the development of microgrids - all of which play a key role in enabling Government policy and progressing to a low-carbon future.” In my October column I highlighted three of the BCIA’s strategic priorities that members believe, with consistent focus, will make the biggest difference to the success of their businesses and in turn the building controls industry; Placing building controls at the heart of policy and legislation, increasing the value placed on building controls, and ensuring building controls is a career of choice. Another priority is to enable the sharing of knowledge, best practice and collaboration. The industry has traditionally been built on proprietary technology, however, as the pace of technology transforms the industry, coupled with the increasing requirements around energy/net zero, there is a need for greater levels of innovation. Although it is a close-knit industry there is very little collaboration or ‘open innovation’ approaches with no current provision that brings SMEs together with larger companies, or that connects the industry to research institutes.
Gaining higher status
Our aim going forward is for building controls to gain higher status where technology transformation and innovation is embraced. Currently the focus is on decarbonisation but also includes broader wellbeing and building efficiency drivers.
For a smart building to be truly smart it is essential that the technology within it works together in harmony resulting in a significant improvement in the performance of the building, whilst also delivering the environmental conditions precisely meeting the occupiers needs to ensure their productivity and comfort is maximised.
The benefits to occupiers, clients and developers are clearly quantifiable, so too the benefit to the environment and contribution to the Government’s carbon reduction commitment. By influencing policy and legislation the BCIA’s ambition is to make building controls and ultimately smart buildings no longer an option but an essential component of any new construction or renovation.
Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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