Page 34 - Energize May 2022

VIEWS AND OPINION

Establishing sustainable buildings of the present

BY MARK FREEMAN, SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SOUTH AFRICA

he building industry is experiencing find a solution to its exorbitant power
unprecedented disruption due consumption.
Tto a variety of trends, including A major contributor to the office
the pandemic, ongoing technological block’s energy usage was its HVAC system
transformation, market pressures, and which had to ensure the building stayed
evolving occupant expectations and needs. cool and comfortable during the hot and
Yet, discussions continue to focus humid summer months. Steps had already
on what the building of tomorrow looks been taken to support the HVAC systems
like instead of examining how current by making ice at nights and running it
innovation such as the internet of things through an ice plant system.
(IoT) and next-generation building Unfortunately, due to the heat from
management systems (BMS) can create the early morning sunrise over the ocean,
sustainable, customer-centric spaces the ice supply was depleted by 12h00 in
within existing structures. the morning and the HVAC system had to Mark Freeman
take over during the peak hours of the day.
BMS at work Using a BMS system, the office block extending the lifespan of equipment and
South African businesses and individuals ascertained that by utilising the HVAC cutting on energy usage.
continue to be affected by the country’s strategically it could save on costs and Also, the newest guest room
volatile grid and power provision and energy. It was found that by switching on management systems (GRMS) seamlessly
tertiary institutions are no exception. To the HVAC system earlier (between 04h00 integrate with property management
mitigate the challenges of this trend, a and 05h00am) and gradually cooling the systems (PMS) and the BMS. When a guest
local university, faced with the realities of office block during non-peak times, the ice arrives, front desk personnel can remotely
load shedding and its impact on quality of plant could be used during peak daytime, change the room from energy saving mode
education, decided to negotiate with the thus saving on energy and costs. to the guest’s preferred temperature.
municipality to find a mutually beneficial Also, through an integrated and
solution. Building automation automated BMS and PMS system, staff
The municipality’s prerequisite was The abovementioned examples clearly have access to the do-not-disturb (DND)
that the university had to guarantee make a case for the importance of BMS in and make-up-room (MUR) status of rooms.
it could drastically reduce its power saving costs and energy. Taking this one The lights are automatically switched on
consumption with two hours’ notice for step further is the automation of BMSs to when housekeeping enters the room (to
the duration of the load shedding period. optimise buildings’ operation. For example, clean) and switched back to energy saving
The university set to work and integrated presence detectors can detect when they leave. Similarly, the HVAC and
implemented a sophisticated BMS system whether a room is in use and adjust the lights will switch on and off when guests
that could assess its power consumption. heat, ventilation, and lights accordingly. enter or leave rooms.
The system found that by rotating the Integrating HVAC, lighting and booking The above has led to almost 40% in
HVAC system throughout the campus systems also offer opportunities for savings in energy bills in hotels throughout
the university would be able to meet the reducing energy use. It can be as simple Africa as energy usage is optimised
municipality’s requirements. as automatically warming conference according to guest occupancy.
Utilising smart sensor technology, rooms 10 minutes before meetings, thus Schneider Electric’s Buildings of
the BMS system determined that by the Future ethos, which is driven by
switching off the HVAC systems in the company’s EcoStruxure Buildings
allocated areas for 45 minutes at a time, it architecture, strives to help owners and
would be able to drastically reduce power managers get the most out of the current
consumption. This 45-minute window resources and systems. The company aims
is short enough not to impact the space to future-proof properties with digitally
temperature which means that by the time connected, open solutions which are
students and lecturers start feeling some adaptable for future needs.
discomfort, the HVAC system has turned
on again. Click here to watch a
The hospitality industry has been related video
severely affected by the pandemic and
coupled with realities of escalating Contact Schneider Electric South Africa,
electricity costs, an office block in Figure 1: The three ‘A’s of automation: Access, Phone 086 130 0222, za-ccc@se.com,
Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal decided to Analyse and Act (Schneider Electric) www.se.com/za/en

energize | May 2022 | 32