INDUSTRY COMMENT
In today’s sustainability and energy efficiency- focused built environment, facility managers are under increasing pressure to reduce carbon, cut energy expenditure, and improve working and living environments for occupants. This is exacerbated further by the ever-tightening regulations and standards being seen across the construction industry. Proven to enhance building performance, building energy management systems (BEMS) are incredibly powerful tools that can help meet targets and achieve energy efficiency goals. Stacey Lucas, President of the Building Controls Industry Association, offers some insight
Driving building performance towards a smarter future
A
llowing the real-time monitoring and optimisation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting and energy use, BEMS play a vital role in the reduction of
carbon emissions and energy consumption. Offering the significant benefit of control, BEMS ensure any crucial heating, ventilation, cooling and lighting systems only run when needed. Substantially boosting efficiency, these innovative systems ensure no more heating or cooling of empty rooms and extend the lifespan of assets through intelligent usage. The clear dashboards and alerts will also expedite the identification of any energy wastage and inefficiencies, enabling facility managers to proactively manage every aspect of the building’s performance. Furthermore, the smarter scheduling and automation will reduce energy consumption and expenditure for building owners, facility managers and occupants.
While it’s important to consider the energy
reduction benefits of BEMS, it would be remiss not to focus on the improvement in wellbeing they can offer, too. Enabling more informed decision making on the most suitable lighting, temperature and CO2 levels, BEMS help create healthier and more comfortable indoor environments. Consequently, productivity, focus and wellbeing can be enhanced. Additionally, facility managers and building owners can take advantage of the data provided by BEMS to identify the most
appropriate hybrid working strategies and efficient space utilisation. There is often a common misconception that BEMS can only be implemented in new builds. However, this simply isn’t the case. BEMS are able to integrate with not only new smart technologies but also legacy systems, making them suitable for retrofitting projects – vital given at least 29 million UK properties will need retrofitting before 2050. Futureproofing the UK building stock requires flexible and adaptable technology; something BEMS offer in abundance. As well as enabling benchmarking and performance tracking over time, they are fully scalable and adaptable to evolving building needs. This is especially pertinent given user behaviour and demand is likely to change during a building’s lifespan. While supporting compliance with carbon
reduction targets, net zero pathways and environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals, BEMS can also help facility managers and building owners deliver on Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) improvements, and other energy performance benchmarks. Of course, BEMS are incredibly effective energy- saving tools. However, they are also central to the delivery of high-performing, compliant and occupant-friendly buildings. With energy, comfort, and cost key considerations for facility managers and building owners, making BEMS a crucial aspect of their building management strategy should therefore be a priority. As the sector’s only representative body, the
Building Controls Industry Association works closely with its members and the wider industry to shape policy, drive professional development and increase awareness of the importance of building controls. Offering comprehensive training, guidance and best practice advice, the association is the ideal source of information and support for anyone in the building controls sector and across the built environment.
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