NYSERDA
Improving energy efficiency and reducing building electric loads are key first steps toward decarbonization. While every commercial or industrial building has a unique capital improvement plan and timeline, efforts to cut energy use typically involve a combination of building envelope upgrades, equipment replacements, and process improvements with efficiency in mind.
To get the most out of these efficiency improvements and upgrades, property owners and facilities managers can install smart building systems to enable automated building operations and controls. From smart thermostats to comprehensive real-time energy management (RTEM) systems, smart technologies can optimize energy use of one or more systems in a building.
The benefits extend beyond energy savings, especially for buildings with tenants and multiple uses. Smart technologies grant greater control and customization to make workspaces more comfortable, whether byautomating shading and lighting or programming temperatures to adjust based on occupancy levels.
Smart technology’s ability to integrate building energy management and automatically respond to changes also positions it as both a resource for decarbonization planning and a tool for implementing decarbonization solutions.
Saving Energy While Informing Maintenance and Upgrades
Have you asked if your facility is working as hard for you as it could? While staff training and workforce development are key to preparing your organization for decarbonization, so is optimizing building systems to work smarter, not harder.
Smart building systems use sensors and monitors to collect real-time energy usage data that’s leveraged to achieve more efficient building operations. Whether installing occupancy sensors to switch lights off in areas of a building that aren’t in use or using HVAC controllers to fine-tune air flow and humidity in different zones, there are numerous ways to automate energy savings.
A portfolio of buildings across New York, representing 2.95 million square feet, reduced their energy use by 7.2% on average by installing RTEM systems. However, the total energy savings for a given facility will depend on several factors, including the existing site conditions, building type and use, and occupancy rates.
Smart metering helped Jack Resnick & Sons identify energy cost saving opportunities at their 563,391-square-foot building in Manhattan. The system collected data from building equipment, such as chillers, boilers, and lighting control panels to determine optimum setpoints, schedules, and operations. This automation has translated to annual energy savings of 480,000 kWh.
Using building data from their RTEM system, Yonkers Honda Service Center identified several energy efficiency improvements to cut their energy consumption. The installation of a smart thermostat, lighting retrofits, and HVAC upgrades resulted in 370,783 kWh of energy savings in their 48,500-square-foot facility.
Increasing Adaptability and Marketability
Being responsive to change is critical for businesses and property owners. Whether preparing for building decarbonization or adapting to fluctuating occupancy, smart building systems enable both rapid decision-making and long-term planning.
As buildings shift from fossil fuel-powered equipment to all-electric systems, smart technologies can be leveraged to optimize renewable energy and energy storage solutions. For instance, smart systems can manage how much onsite renewable energy generation is used to power the building versus fed into the grid based on historical usage data and the weather forecast.
Not only can building equipment like HVAC systems and lighting be optimized for energy efficiency, but also to align with a tenant’s workspace needs. A smart building system could adjust temperatures throughout a workplace according to a pre-programmed schedule or occupancy levels collected by keycard swipes. This customization provides value to tenants, enhancing retention and the potential for higher rents.
Retrofitting Your Building with Smart Technologies
Between regulations and building modernization, smart technologies are an asset to reduce energy loads and improve indoor comfort. They provide insights into building operations that can be used to customizeindoor environments, support preventative maintenance, and detect equipment failure.
Smart building systems are also critical to unlocking the full potential of energy-efficient equipment and clean energy. Building decarbonization strategies, such as heat recovery systems and heat pumps, benefit from automation and controls to optimize their energy usage and emissions savings.
With real-time data at their fingertips, building owners and facilities teams are empowered to achievenear-term energy savings and chart their path toward a decarbonized future.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) can connect commercial and industrial leaders with technical experts and resources to take the guesswork out of decarbonization