Saving Operating Cost by Saving Energy

Each of us has a building to operate and pay for the operation of the heating, cooling, lighting and power for the operation of the building. If this is a residence, we can do that more easily by lowering temperatures in the winter, raising them in the summer, shutting off lights and making sure that equipment is not running needlessly.

But in the case of a commercial or industrial building, we can not operate in the same way. We need to use automation such as a BMS or DDC system to allow us to control the systems in the facility to optimize the energy that is consumed. An algorithm which is created can do this very nicely for us as we strive for improved efficiency. Our annual operating costs for the building can be predicted by a modeling program and then confirmed by actual documentation once the building is occupied as it is intended. There are many high efficiency approaches that will allow us to achieve lower operating costs through improved efficiency boilers, high efficiency air conditioners, obtaining free cooling, using VFD's, using high efficiency lighting, use of daylighting, use of automatic shades, use of thermal barriers for the building envelopes and many more.

We as designers need to consider the cost to benefit ratio for implementing the various technologies into each of our projects as they go forward. This needs to be carefully considered at the beginning of the design of each project.