Most commercial buildings, offices and manufacturing plants are largely vacant in the evening (except for cleaning crews and night owls). Yet the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is operating around the clock on weekdays, weekends and holidays. Aside from unnecessary energy use and expenses, long hours of use can lead to more frequent repair calls and downtime due to the added stress on HVAC components. With an Energy Management System (EMS), building managers can monitor equipment, schedule changes, customize programming, detect anomalies and respond to usage alerts. And if you have an existing EMS in your facility that is older than 15 years, it may be eligible for a replacement system.
Control Strategies
There are a variety of control strategies to choose from when creating the optimal EMS package. Each control strategy allows you to optimize your central HVAC for comfort, energy efficiency and cost savings. Below are a few control strategies and a brief overview of their functions.
Optimum Start/Stop
Before people arrive for the day, your heating and cooling system reaches a predetermined temperature and then returns to an evening setback temperature after they leave.
Economizers
By taking advantage of pleasant weather in the spring and fall months, air-side economizers use outdoor air to cool your building.
Supply Temperature Reset
The temperature setpoint of the supply air will meet the demand of a room by fluctuating the temperature of the discharged air. So, if the temperature outside is cool enough, your central cooling system won’t have to work as hard to reach that setpoint. This reduces the load on the central systems which translates into greater energy savings.
Set and Go
With an EMS, you can control your HVAC wirelessly from a central control system. Modern digital technology, remote access and easy-to-use computer dashboard controls allow building operators to change temperature settings and schedules. Alert functions give you an early heads-up when equipment is not running at peak performance — avoiding costlier repairs and downtimes while reducing service calls.
