Continuing our series about our Smart Building Journey maturity model (download the white paper) we move from focusing on the occupant experience to the critical next step lies of optimizing energy and resource management.
Modern buildings demand sophisticated systems that transcend basic on-off controls, evolving into intelligent, adaptive networks capable of responding to real-time demands. The importance of smart energy management is driven by three key factors: achieving significant energy savings, effectively managing resources, and ensuring regulatory compliance. While everyone increasingly value sustainable practices, a gap often exists between enthusiasm and active participation. Management teams and engineers typically handle efficiency measures, leaving occupant engagement, a vital component, largely untapped.
The Evolution of Energy Management Systems: From Reactive to Proactive
Energy management systems have evolved through distinct stages, each representing increasing sophistication. Here's a breakdown of those stages:
Stage 1: All or Nothing (Zero) - Basic Operation:
- Systems operate in a binary mode, either fully on or off.
- Reliance solely on manual engineer control with limited precision.
- Reactive issue detection during periodic reviews.
Stage 2: Dollars & Time (Good) - Manual Management:
- More detailed manual management, including basic utility bill tracking.
- Daily set point adjustments, potentially achieving EnergyStar ratings.
- Constrained by manual oversight and a lack of real-time occupancy data.
Stage 3: Check Engine Light (Better) - Monitoring and Data:
- Implementation of Energy Management Systems (EMS) for monitoring.
- Provision of data on energy use and potential savings.
- Manual intervention still required for adjustments.
Stage 4: Command and Response (Best) - Integrated Intelligence:
- Comprehensive integration of all building systems.
- Single dashboard view enabling real-time adjustments based on room usage.
- Optimization of multiple power sources and participation in demand-response programs.
The Shifting Landscape: From Compliance to Comprehensive Management
The focus of building energy management has shifted from mere compliance to a holistic approach enabled by unified data pipelines. These pipelines facilitate energy use measurement across multiple buildings, optimize resource consumption, track sustainability metrics, and provide actionable insights for improvement. While many organizations are in the early stages of this journey, the future is clearly defined by integrated, intelligent systems that actively respond to and optimize building energy use in real-time.
Looking Forward: Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement
As regulations evolve and sustainability becomes paramount, buildings must adapt. Success hinges on creating systems that not only manage energy efficiently but also engage all stakeholders, from management to occupants, in achieving sustainability goals.
Download the full Smart Building Journey white paper.
Ready to get started? Contact us today.
