The Future of Energy Monitoring in Building
Thankfully, the demand for Building Energy Monitoring Systems (BEMS) has been met by innovative and effective solutions enabling managers to easily and efficiently reduce power usage.
This can be achieved by installing a comprehensive system of power consumption meters that give you the ability to monitor and control systems and/or automate entire buildings, so less human input is required.
In this article, we explore:
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Components and terms explained
- Building Management Systems (BMS)
- Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS)
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Automation / Smart Buildings
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Why energy monitoring is important for future cities
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Key drivers in the market
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Where New Zealand currently sits
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How we can help – Eurotec working with Innotech and Sauter
Components and terms explained
A building’s key systems can be linked together via a network of hardware and software to create one more easily operated system. This creates easier operation and can more effectively control energy consumption. This can be achieved via a few different levels of integration…
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Building Management Systems (BMS)
is a method of integrating the operation of all the major systems within a building into one system. For example, this may include combining a building’s HVAC system with its security, fire, generator and lighting systems to create one place for efficient operation. BMS are also solutions for manually enabling energy control and management.
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Building Energy Monitoring Systems (BEMS)
can be integrated into a new or existing building to measure energy consumption and identify sectors that can improve energy efficiency. BEMS effectively becomes a network of energy consumption meters linked together so it can be easily monitored and controlled from one system.
The main focus is on energy consumption. It enables building managers to make more insightful energy-saving decisions based on data gathered from multiple systems, such as air conditioning, heating and lighting. This increases the building’s energy efficiency and reduces management and power costs.
If your goal is to gain complete control over your building management and energy consumption as well as reduce costs, the implementation of a BMS and BEMS solutions is the best option.
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Internet of things – Taking it online
BEMS can also be combined with a spectrum of technologies connecting devices over the internet. Cloud-based systems, also known as ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT), can enable the collection and monitoring of data from wirelessly connected devices that can be accessed anywhere via the internet. IoT systems allow facility managers to gain a complete view of building operations from any location, in real time and in high resolution.
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Automation – Smart Buildings
Linking systems into one management system allows for greater software automation – this enables better decisions regarding power usage within a building. These are sometimes referred to as ‘Smart Buildings’.
Where traditional systems require human time and expertise to respond to certain conditions, automated buildings do not require constant human monitoring.
Key benefits of automated BEMs include:
- Quicker and more frequent decision making; for example, disconnecting or lowering power usage of an HVAC system if a room is not occupied
- Can collect unlimited data for future energy management decisions
- Prevents equipment failures and ensures that facility managers are notified of failures instantly
- Allows for easier human control, configuration and programming
Why energy monitoring is important to the future of cities
Energy-efficient buildings are being sought to reduce GHGs due to the building sector contributing to almost 40% of total carbon emissions worldwide.
Changes begin with better building energy monitoring and management. Because of this, there’s a call for a more regulatory framework to push building developers and owners toward more energy-efficient buildings.
Key drivers in the market
Other key drivers include:
- Government initiatives and regulations
- Accelerating construction activities
- Adoption of better tech, including smart sensors
- Growth in consumer awareness
- Adoption in residential homes
- Rapid urbanization
- Rise in carbon dioxide emissions and effects of climate change
Where New Zealand Currently Sits
Commercial buildings use 21% of New Zealand’s electricity, costing businesses $800 million every year. Due to our high GHG emissions per capita, it is said we have a leadership role to play globally. Our Government has set a target for 100% of electricity to be renewable by 2035, yet New Zealand is lagging with the uptake of environmentally friendly buildings.
‘Net Zero Emission Buildings (NZEBs) are buildings that are able to produce as much sustainable power as they consume. Currently, New Zealand has only a handful of NZEBs; this is in contrast to their growth in other developed countries. Consequently, there is more pressure to make New Zealand building owners and tenants accountable for their energy usage.
Evidence now supports a mandatory system in New Zealand to measure and compare the energy performance of commercial buildings. This is led by the success of the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS), where Australian building owners must disclose an energy rating for their premises. NABERSNZ is New Zealand’s own equivalent voluntary system, but it may not stay voluntary for long.
A recent report by Sense Partners, commissioned by the New Zealand Green Building Council, showed:
“A mandatory disclosure scheme applied to a building’s base energy performance could represent present value benefits between $117.5m and $181.3m over a 10-year period.”
The report suggested mandatory participation in building energy usage programmes before the end of 2022. It’s safe to say New Zealand will most likely see these measures introduced in the very near future.
How we can help – Eurotec working with Innotech and Sauter
In order to thoroughly maximise the benefits of energy monitoring, it’s important for a supplier to provide the best, customised solutions for meeting the requirements of the client. At Eurotec, we are proud to offer building energy management solutions from two market-leading brands ‘Innotech’ and ‘Sauter’.
Innotech has been an industry leader since its beginning in 1984. Based in Brisbane, Australia, their growing worldwide recognition for quality and innovation can be attributed to their early, innovative, user-friendly air conditioning control systems. They have now expanded their range of products to include some of the world’s best electricity monitoring solutions.
Sauter has also provided world-leading products, expertise and solutions for building management and room automation for over 100 years. Based in Switzerland, they now have over 3,300 employees worldwide, making them one of the leading providers in the building automation sector.
Eurotec’s established relationships with these suppliers, combined with our knowledge and experience, make us the best in New Zealand for assessing and supplying your building energy management requirements.
To find out more about the power monitoring systems we offer, follow this link.