NEWS
Study highlights AI’s potential in building energy efficiency
A
new study has highlighted that integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the building sector could cut energy consumption by approximately 8% to 19% and, when combined with supportive energy policies, achieve up
to 40% energy savings and 90% carbon emissions reduction by 2050. ‘AI’s role in optimising building operations and energy
performance is receiving continuous attention, and if you’re not using it, you might be already falling behind. It offers real-world solutions that are implementable here and how. Also, since the updated EU’s directive for buildings recently encouraged energy data sharing, we are sure that energy savings using AI will improve even more,” said Donatas Karciauskas, chief executive of Exergio, a company that develops AI tools for building energy efficiency. “Current algorithms lead to the reduction of energy waste by up to 20%, but open-access for building’s data can increase these numbers. The fact that the scientific community analyses such solutions is usually the first step towards general acceptance, and seeing how aligned with latest tools it is, it is just a matter of time when it will become a standard in the industry.”The study, titled ‘Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Reducing Energy and Carbon Emissions of Commercial
Buildings at Scale,’ evaluates AI’s impact on medium office buildings in the United States. It highlights several key areas where AI can make a substantial difference.
First of all, AI can enhance the efficiency of
HVAC systems and lighting by learning and predicting optimal operating conditions. It can dynamically adjust heating, cooling, and lighting based on real-time occupancy data, reducing energy use during off-hours. Finally, research shows that the latest tech provides precise control over building systems, allowing for real-time adjustments 24/7. “The study’s findings resonate with our
projects,” Karciauskas noted. “For example, in office buildings we manage, there are 1000s of data points that can impact energy performance, and no human can oversee that. When we employ AI to help us, we know what to focus on. During off-hours, our system reduces energy usage in unoccupied areas, and ramps it up just before peak usage times, enhancing both comfort and efficiency.”
Quality skills for large scale retrofit key to Net Zero success
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n industry expert is urging the new government to ensure it includes the development and prioritisation of retrofit training and knowledge as part of its focus on skills.
The call follows the King’s announcement earlier this month of the Skills Bill designed to bring together local and national government, business, skills providers and unions to develop a highly trained workforce. As the government has also announced plans to build 1.5 million new homes in the next five years and reinstate housebuilding targets for local councils, concern is also being raised around ensuring the decarbonisation of existing housing stock remains a priority.
As such, David Pierpoint, chief executive of The Retrofit Academy is urging the government to ensure there is focus on developing the skills for the high-quality retrofitting of 27 million existing homes to make them healthier, warmer and more sustainable. Without this focus, the organisation is concerned that work to improve homes across the UK will lose momentum and the risk of poor quality retrofit will grow. Speaking on this challenge, Mr Pierpoint said: “It is fantastic to see the government prioritising the development of a
highly skilled workforce in the UK by bringing together businesses, providers, unions, Mayoral Combined Authorities and the national government. For many years we have been working closely with such organisations to make this a reality for retrofit skills and we have been making great strides in doing so, but there remains a significant challenge ahead. “It is vital that the incoming government continues to fund quality retrofit at scale, including the training required to create the retrofit workforce this requires. We understand the importance of building new homes in providing more people in the UK with a warm and comfortable place to live. However, there are millions of homes that are already available that need upgrading to provide the same, and to help us progress to Net Zero. As the government has said, collaboration is key to developing the skills to make this a success and we urge them to continue to drive the policy and funding that will make this possible.”
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10/11/23 16:13 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2024 5
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