Author: bldgcontrols

Facility operations require several different technologies to run and maintain various components, and to run them efficiently requires even more tech. Buildings will use many different resources to function normally, and paying for all these, especially if they’re wasted, adds up in the long run. Now, there are new technologies that will help with managing each building resource to minimize extraneous use and reduce operation costs.

Building Automation and Sensors

Many are familiar with building automation systems; they’re starting to become more common across many industries. For example, automated lights are installed in buildings, allowing them to turn on when a room is occupied and immediately turn off when vacant.

Generally, these systems use motion sensors to detect whether anyone is in the room, needing use of the lights. Based on the detection data from the motion sensors, lights can turn on or off readily. People don’t have to worry about lights inadvertently turning off when they’re in a room but relatively motionless, like sitting at a computer desk all day. Sensitive motion and other sensors can detect when a body is in a room. Thanks to these sensors, buildings won’t waste electricity activating lights clearly not in use.

Water Usage Reduction Tech

Today, many hot water tanks are constructed and designed to be more efficient than those of the past. Using a more efficient hot water tank can immediately result in a building consuming less water. Given the amount of energy that goes into heating water, this is also a change that will make a building generally more sustainable.

Saving water can also result from certain building automations. Sinks can be programmed to also turn off immediately, which can cut excessive water use. Most people only need so much water for tasks, and automatic sensors can reduce water from constant-flowing faucets to provide water only when needed.

Cooling and Heating

Buildings’ cooling and heating systems have a tremendous effect on overall energy consumption. Many buildings will run air conditioning at high levels consistently throughout the warmest parts of the year, even if it makes a building uncomfortably cold. Building heating systems can be just as problematic on the other end of the spectrum.

When these systems are replaced with more efficient systems, even automated ones, the building runs easier and becomes much more sustainable, since the system can use less resources to output energy for optimal environmental conditions. In many cases after implementing changes, occupants are more comfortable as well. Inefficient cooling and heating systems often waste a lot of energy while running but provide subpar output. Most newer and more advanced cooling and heating systems available run properly and use energy effectively, turning input resources to output energy better.

Other Energy Conservation Components

Energy conservation can be more complicated. It’s important to make sure the building itself is not using too many resources. Automation and efficient cooling and heating systems are only a few components in overall operations. If a lot of heat escapes from the building due to the design of windows or the lack of proper building insulation, for example, building operation costs will still be high, even with installations of new systems. Better insulation and windows that were designed to help buildings maintain internal temperatures more effectively can make a building significantly more energy efficient.

To find all your building’s areas of inefficient energy use, it is important to conduct a proper analysis on where inefficiencies lie and what areas can be improved. Like in the example above, adding new, technologically advanced systems throughout your building will benefit you little if energy is actually wasted through improper insulation. Contact us to learn more how an energy audit and breakdown can better pinpoint areas of your building to best invest to better use resources.

Employees play a large role in improving building management efficiency and reducing energy costs. Whether it be education and spreading the word via bulletin boards and e-mails, or participating in organized facility management improvement programs such as 20 Keys, there are many ways for employees to get involved and make a difference!

Some manufacturing companies use the 20 Keys program created by a Japanese manufacturer to improve a company’s efficiency. The book “20 Keys to Workplace Improvement (Manufacturing and Production)” by Iwao Kobayashi, describes the 20 keys to workplace improvement. For example, one element is Conserving Energy and Materials. Groups of employees work together on a committee to create goals and objectives to improve energy conservation and monitor water usage, electricity, and energy usage on a quarterly basis to work on improvements over time. This program goes hand in hand with the International Standard Organization (ISO) 14000 family, an environmental standard where companies also create goals and objectives towards improving energy.

There are even of ways to incentivize employees to get involved in energy conservation: launch a competition, create a green team, spread the word, and promote employee efforts. ENERGY STAR has a benchmarking competition workbook to get you started, guiding you to plan and lead an energy or water efficiency competition.

Our conservation analyses and solutions can supplement a 20 Keys or ISO 14000 program by monitoring and evaluating energy usage and training staff on methods to achieve building operation goals and reduce expenditures. Please contact us to learn how we can help your employees work on improving energy conservation in your company!

One of the biggest expenses all property owners incur is energy costs. With the rising cost of energy, as well as the need to be more energy efficient and reducing you carbon footprint, having a building energy audit completed can help determine areas that need improvement. A third-party can perform a building energy audit for your property or business, and it can be advantageous to have their insight. Their analysis can help reveal certain faults and offer solutions to fix them to improve efficiency.

Areas of Waste

An analysis and audit will identify areas where you are wasting energy. Most companies waste a significant amount of energy daily by simply not following best practices and protocols. The energy audit will determine areas in which you are wasting energy, calculate how much it is a cost to you, and develop a plan for addressing these concerns to reduce your squandered output.

Capital Repairs

While there are many operational changes that most businesses could complete to reduce their energy costs, another reason why energy cost can be so high is because they have equipment that is older and inefficient. The building energy audit will be able to identify capital equipment and major appliances that are using too much energy. They will also be able to develop a plan for maintenance schedules and potential equipment replacement to figure out a way to reduce your resource consumption.

An external building energy audit will be beneficial to detail facility costs and to implement a plan to optimize operations. If you are interested in finding ways to reduce your property’s energy output and costs, contact us to learn more about how a building energy audit could help you.

When it comes to reducing costs, facility improvements can make a massive difference in achieving yearly savings. However, every building is different and requires a customized solution. In every case, proper analysis can yield effective systems and strategies for creating the maximum savings for your organization.

Analysis of your building envelope, assets, maintenance logs and utility bills can identify the root cause of your facility’s time and energy waste. The proposed facility improvements should be prioritized so that the most effective changes are put into place first. After the appropriate changes are made, a maintenance plan should be created to ensure your facility continues to perform at optimal levels.

The actual changes to your facility will vary widely depending on your needs. In some cases, a centralized building automation system may be required. These systems allow for simultaneous monitoring of all your organization’s buildings to quickly identify failing equipment. The ability to quickly address failures in your equipment can create the opportunity to implement repairs immediately, rather than accumulate costs due to energy waste and further equipment breakdown.

In other cases, your facility may require core upgrades that include changes to your chiller plant or supporting infrastructure. These changes can make a radical difference in the energy wasted on cooling issues. Over the course of a year, this can create significant savings for your organization.

Facility improvements involve the integration of efficient, working systems and equipment that help reduce your building’s waste. Following a proper analysis, an appropriate list of changes can be developed and implemented. The payoff for an initial investment in these upgrades comes in the form of savings the accumulate year after year.

A great example of tailored facility improvements leading to massive savings, Kansas City’s Union Station implemented a prioritized facility plan, making small and large upgrades to their building envelope and facility assets and saw $203,000 of savings in their first year.

Watch how: https://bcsperformancesolutions.com/case-studies/union-station-kansas-city/