Buildings heat up excessively when their occupied and unoccupied summer setpoints are set too high, beyond 70-74 degrees Fahrenheit occupied, 74-78 (max) unoccupied. Usually setpoints are set too high because the building manager is trying to save energy. Typically, they set the thermostat to a higher temperature for cooling, such that the system is generally off during these periods.
In Part 1 of this blog series, we explained why this isn't a good idea.
To truly save energy, building managers should understand Adaptive Energy Management (AEM) and how they can use their buildings' thermal mass as a "battery" to store cold energy during the night. This concept is referred to as BaaB — "Building as a Battery."
By using AEM, not only do building managers save on energy costs, but they also reduce the wear and tear on their HVAC equipment. This is a result of efficiently changing the working duty cycle of the RTUs (rooftop air conditioning units).
The building cannot compensate for the build-up of heat as it is now in the position of trying to cool hot air coming in from the surroundings AND contend with the stored heat from the night before.
As such, the system struggles to do three things simultaneously:
Adaptive Energy Management - How to Use Your Buildings as a Battery
It causes the system to:
None of the above saves energy. None of the above saves money. All of this is the exact opposite of what the building manager was trying to achieve.
By applying the principles of load shifting and "Building as a Battery," facility managers can help their buildings assume a cooler profile at night. This reduced energy costs while gaining some benefit from "free" outside air cooling. Controlling load shifting allows managers to invest the stored energy into the day-time operations. This results in enhanced comfort and stability for building occupants, less load on the cooling systems, and improved energy savings.
Implementing AEM requires building managers to measure the thermal mass of their buildings continually.
This allows them to:
Saving money and energy through AEM would be a somewhat impossible task without a way to effectively measure the above.
The best way to measure is by using a smart building system. The right system allows managers to:
Through real-time measurement of contextual data (such as weather, occupancy, and schedules) as well as verification of energy use and related costs, PhoenixET's EnterpriseDX® Smart Building Platform controls, monitors and manages millions of data points from HVAC systems and IoT devices in your building to help maximize comfort and savings.
One of the most valuable IoT energy management platforms, EDX improves occupants' comfort, reduces energy consumption, and optimizes building performance by automatically sending remote signals to various parts of your building to optimize temperature within your defined parameters.
EDX helps achieve AEM by applying the principle of load shifting and measuring your building's thermal mass to intelligently adjust your setpoints to achieve maximum comfort and energy savings.
What Facility Managers Need to Know About Load Shifting - Part 1
Adaptive Energy Management Guide
Are You Managing Your Energy Spend?
4 Common Myths of Energy Conservation in Building Management
Precision Building Management: Understanding Closed Loop Control