Preparing buildings for every season with a BEMS

Pradeep Singh, intelligent building solutions consultant at Trend Control Systems Ltd.

Historically, facilities managers have faced significant challenges in adequately preparing buildings for every season due to the lack of sophistication in automated controls. Without the advanced features of modern systems, facility managers (FM) relied heavily on historical weather data to anticipate temperature fluctuations and would have to make adjustments to the indoor environment themselves.

For instance, during the summer months, facilities managers might need to manually lower the thermostat settings to ensure a cooler environment. Typically, this would involve physically assessing each thermostat unit throughout the building and adjusting the temperature settings based on historical patterns or real-time weather observations. Conversely, in winter, facilities managers would manually raise thermostat settings to maintain a comfortable warmth.

Considering these interventions require regular monitoring and adjustments, the process can become both labour-intensive and time-consuming. It can also leave occupants experiencing prolonged periods of discomfort whilst waiting for changes to the building’s environment to be made.

With the advent of advanced building energy management systems (BEMS), facilities managers now have the tools to seamlessly adapt the climates within buildings based on external conditions. These systems leverage cutting-edge technology to monitor and adjust HVAC systems, lighting, and other environmental controls in real-time. By utilising the latest technology, facilities managers can create comfortable, adaptive environments for occupants whilst simultaneously optimising energy efficiency.