How to get your BEMS ready for winter
There’s so much to look forward to in the run up to Christmas and New Year but unfortunately, it does come with a surge in energy bills. As the cold weather creeps in, you can’t stop a spike in your energy use. You do, however, have some control over how big that spike gets. Simply by getting your building – and building energy management system (BEMS) – winter ready.
Prepare your building
Start with the efficiency of your building. Has your heating system been serviced? And is your plant maintenance complete? Seasonal items in your plant need to be working correctly when brought back online.
Prepare your BEMS
Next, it’s time to look at your BEMS. Most businesses waste energy – often without realising it. Don’t be one of them. This autumn, it’s time to get on top of your energy efficiency. Starting with how smoothly your BEMS transitions between seasons. Here’s some hints and tips to get you started:
Check your timings
Clocks ‘fall back’ on Sunday 27th October. So make sure the front-end terminal of your BEMS is scheduled to adjust automatically or if needed, put a note in the diary to adjust it manually. While you’re at it, remember to retime networked controllers and any standalone control devices.
Check your holidays
You’ll be out of office from 25th December until 2nd January (if you aren’t working in-between). That’s nine days’ worth of energy that could be saved. Set the dates you’re away in advance so your HVAC plant services aren’t running in an empty building.
Optimise your BEMS
Save energy by optimising the ‘start/stop’ functionality of your plant. Modern systems can ‘self learn’ and will stop and start your heating and cooling services based on your building’s thermal characteristics. Basically, your BEMS will keep indoor temperatures at a predefined comfort level but only during times your building is occupied. We’d suggest talking to a BEMS specialist about setting this up.
Set achievable set points
In an ideal world, heating systems would only be used in colder months and vice versa for cooling. In reality, though, both systems are likely to run simultaneously through the year. To save on both, it might be time to revisit your comfort temperature setpoints.
Setpoint values should be achievable and create a ‘deadband’ to minimise system conflict. For example, you can set your heating to 20°C, with cooling available if the temperature rises above 23°C.
It’s also worth checking your ‘compensated’ temperature setpoints. In this case, plant control is influenced by both internal and external temperatures. Perfect for colder mornings and warmer afternoons.
Do you have a heating policy?
Where a heating policy exists, it’s important to ensure the BEMS settings align. This would address any historical changes that could have been made. Now is an ideal opportunity to review and restore these settings so you can ‘start as you mean to go on’.
Keep reviewing your BEMS settings
Regular reviews are good practice. That way, you can make sure your BEMS accurately reflects your building’s energy usage and occupancy patterns. All while improving your energy efficiency and saving on bills.
Contact us
If you want to discuss any of the points raised, speak with one of our experts. We’d look forward to hearing from you.
