Time to get your BEMS ready for spring! Here’s some simple, energy-saving tips
Spring has sprung! Which means it’s time to prep your BEMS for warmer days. To save energy – and money – this season, that delicate shift from heating to cooling needs to be managed carefully. Here’s some super simple tips to get you started.
Check your timings
Ahead of the BST clock change on Sunday 31st March, make sure the front-end terminal of your BEMS is set correctly or scheduled to advance automatically. Networked controllers can also be re-timed.
Is your BEMS ‘bank holiday’ ready?
We’ve got four bank holidays this spring – that’s four days’ worth of energy you could be saving! Set the below dates in advance on your BEMS or your HVAC plant services will be running in an empty building.
- 29th March: Good Friday
- 1st April: Easter Monday
- 6th May: Early May Bank Holiday
- 27th May: Spring Bank Holiday
Optimise your heating and cooling services
In terms of saving energy, you might think spring is a sweet spot for building operators. That’s because in an ideal world, heating systems would only be used in the colder months and vice versa for cooling. In reality, though, both systems are likely to run simultaneously through the year.
To save on heating and cooling services, why not optimise the start/stop functionality of your plant? Heating and cooling services are stopped and started based on your BEMS ability to ‘self learn’. It learns your building’s thermal characteristics, according to predefined comfort settings over a certain time period.
Revisit your temperature setpoints
Set your comfort temperature setpoints to achievable values 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.
Consider compensated temperature setpoints that factor internal and external temperatures to influence plant control. Perfect for cold mornings and warm afternoons.
Keep reviewing those BEMS settings
Routinely review your BEMS settings. It’s good practice and you’ll feel safe in the knowledge that it truly reflects your building’s usage and occupancy patterns. All while increasing energy efficiency and maximising savings!
Contact
Got any questions or need more advice? Find your local office and drop us a message or email info@kendraenergy.co.uk.
