WHAT IS BUILDING ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (BEMS)?
Building Energy Management Systems, also known as Building Automation System (BAS) or Building Management System (BMS), is a smart microprocessor based controller network, installed to monitor and control a building's technical systems (such as air conditioning, ventilation, lighting and hydraulics). BMS, monitors or controls mechanical systems such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning and domestic water installation and also electrical systems such as lighting systems, switches and energy analysers.
It ensures that the building operates at a maximum efficiency level by eliminating wasted energy use and associated costs. Optimum efficiency is achieved by continuously maintaining the right balance between operating requirements, external and internal environmental conditions and energy use.
WHY DO I NEED A BEMS?
To save money
We appreciate owners and tenants of non-domestic buildings are under increasing pressure to manage their energy usage more efficiently, helping to reduce their costs and carbon emissions. A BEMS can efficiently control as much as 84% of your building's energy consumption. Furthermore, it performs its functions completely automatically, day in, day out, year after year without the need for much interaction.
To control your energy usage
If you don’t monitor it you can’t manage it! With the correct measurement of utility consumption a well installed BEMS will enable you to identify usage patterns, manage these against your expected or desired levels and then help you to adjust control or remove waste. With the utility consumption of many premises often following a regular profile, a BEMS should record actual consumption data and then compare it against these profiles highlighting over or under usage. Unless system settings and parameters are properly monitored and maintained the building performance will begin to suffer. The result will be higher building operating costs and reduced occupant comfort.
To be made aware of issues before they become problems
A BEMS should receive and communicate different levels of alarm conditions, allowing building owners or users to track conditions and respond quickly if the need arises. Not all alarm conditions need action immediately – maybe a single zone temperature sensor shows a high reading, this should return to normal if the controls takes the required action automatically, however if two or three zones then show alarms then maybe it’s something more serious that needs attention. To provide your assets with the correct environment Globally buildings are subjected to changeable and at times extreme weather conditions. As a result, providing owners with the satisfactory data that enables them to control and monitor their building, whilst at the same time providing a suitable working environment for the people or objects within, becomes a difficult requirement to fulfil.
To ensure building continuity
For many users or owners ‘system down time’ is not acceptable eg Data Centres or Healthcare installations. Therefore systems need to be robust and reliable and able to adapt or expand with the need of the customer. However should the requirements of the user or owner change, new products need to be compatible with products already installed, removing the need to replace perfectly good equipment whilst at the same time securing investments already made in training and system knowledge.
To integrate across all building services
Owners may want their BEMS to do more than just control HVAC equipment, so systems should be able to integrate to 3rd party systems or products such as packaged units, under floor heating (which prevents differing set points and system fighting), window/lighting control, Fire or Access system signals etc.. Interfacing, interoperability and integration can become complex areas of a systems setup – All of our Partners are ‘System Integrators’ and specialise in advising owners and users of the best solution for their specific requirement.
To meet social & corporate responsibility objectives
A BEMS will provide reports and demonstrate visually how energy usage and carbon emissions are being reduced, helping to meet legislative and corporate social responsibility demands.
