Study of the performance of an energy management system

Abstract

Energy management systems (EMS) have been installed in some UK Government buildings on a trial basis. These systems promise to improve the monitoring and control of building services, but the capital investment is large and their cost effectiveness needs to be assessed. The Building Research Establishment has monitored detailed energy flows, plant efficiencies and environmental conditions on a before-and-after basis to provide accurate assessments of attributable energy savings and to highlight energy management priorities for future applications in similar buildings. The paper describes some of the results obtained and lessons learned from one of these buildings, controlled by a single intelligent outstation. Precommissioning monitoring and post monitoring over successive heating seasons have been completed. Though the building already exhibited an energy performance better than average before the EMS was installed, 38 per cent fuel savings (corrected for weather variation) have been realised as well as improved comfort conditions. Further scope for savings has also been revealed by monitoring data, including EMS control algorithm improvements.