Ashok A Khedkar Business Update – 1-11-2024

Works Undertaken: Earth – FDD-AI- HVAC- BMS-BMCS-DDC-BAS-Building Automation-Electricity-Gas-Water-Fire-Energy-Technology-Property-CRE-Built Environment-Homes

Engagement: 28-9-1983

Completion: 2023-2024

Solution Engineer: Ashok A Khedkar

Solutions Offered To: Every Grain of Earth

• How will I design, install, test, commission, control, tune, optimize, maintain, operate, improve, generate, procure and supply FDD, AI, HVAC, BMS, EMS, BMCS, DDC, BAS, Building Automation, Electricity, Gas, Water, Fire, Energy, Technology, Property, CRE, to global built environment, 10 billion homes in 195 countries and 8 continents on my beloved earth?

• How will I design, install, test, commission, control, tune, optimize, maintain, operate, improve, generate, procure and supply HVAC, BMS, FDD, AI, Technology, DDC, BMCS, BAS, and EMS on my beloved earth?

• How will I design, install, test, commission, control, tune, optimize, maintain, operate, improve, generate, procure and supply Building Tuning, Optimization, ESG, Technology and Sustainability Performance Improvement on my beloved earth?

The global smart building market is projected to grow from US$117.4 billion in 2024 to US$568 billion by 2032. This transformation is driven by a variety of trends, including rapid urbanisation and increasing pressure from regulators to reduce carbon emissions. 

Smart building technology is helping commercial buildings consume energy efficiently—a particularly important value driver at a time when energy costs are outpacing inflation.

By using Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and automated systems, buildings can optimise energy consumption by adjusting HVAC and lighting levels based on real-time occupancy and tenant usage patterns. Smart building systems can save 40-70% of energy consumed by HVAC systems alone by using technology to control, monitor, and optimise those systems. Building FDD analytics tools also significantly reduce wastage by identifying signals of overuse  or maintenance issues such as equipment leaks or other malfunctions that impact performance).

With a market poised to experience a reset in commercial property values, tenant satisfaction matters more than ever. Occupant comfort and satisfaction are generally viewed as leading metrics for lease renewals, directly contributing to building occupancy, NOI, and overall asset value.

IoT sensors in smart buildings continuously monitor the condition of critical systems such as HVAC units and elevators. Constant monitoring makes predictive maintenance possible, allowing building managers to address issues before they escalate into costly repairs. Rather than wasting time, energy, and capital on schedule-based maintenance tasks that may not be necessary, predictive maintenance lets the equipment tell the story. Predictive maintenance reduces downtime and extends the lifespan of building systems, further reducing operating costs and enhancing property value. By leveraging existing plant and equipment data, building owners can make better decisions, improve planning capacity, and increase profits. The adoption of smart building technology is a wise investment for property owners and REITs aiming to enhance the value of their commercial assets. As the market continues to prioritise sustainability and efficiency, properties equipped with these advanced technologies will likely see continued appreciation in value. Investing in smart building technologies is therefore a strategic way to future-proof assets in an increasingly competitive market. 

Buildings equipped with energy-efficient systems, smart amenities, and advanced security are more attractive to both tenants and investors—an appeal that translates into higher rental rates and sale prices. Properties with smart features are also better positioned to obtain green certifications like LEED or high NABERS ratings, further enhancing their marketability.

At the heart of the FDD analytics Platform are rules, through which building data points are streamed for automated fault detection and diagnosis (FDD). The Rules contain a library of  algorithms deployed across building equipment to monitor performance. Examples include overnight operation, mechanical failure, energy wastage, safety and compliance, tenant comfort, and sensor performance. These algorithms are developed by expert engineers based on real-world building operating experience to ensure early identification and detection of energy wastage and optimisation opportunities.

The pre-configured rules-based algorithms continuously monitor all building data points, offering high-value insights to address faults, inefficiencies, and opportunities to optimise.

IoT and AI form the backbone of smart buildings, providing the necessary infrastructure and intelligence for efficient building management. IoT devices, such as sensors and actuators, are embedded throughout the building, gathering data from various systems like HVAC, lighting, and security. This data is then analysed using AI algorithms, which enable the building to respond intelligently to various stimuli, such as changes in occupancy or environmental conditions.

AI enhances the capabilities of IoT by enabling predictive maintenance, energy optimization, and enhanced occupant comfort through automated adjustments based on real-time data​​​​.Energy management is a cornerstone of smart building technology. Smart buildings employ sophisticated systems to monitor and manage energy consumption, striving for greater efficiency and sustainability. This involves using AI techniques like predictive analytics for energy usage, optimizing HVAC systems, and integrating renewable energy sources. These systems contribute significantly to reducing the carbon footprint of buildings and aligning with global sustainability goals​​​​​​.

1. 1.5°C Pathway – This ambitious scenario depends on rapid global adoption of low-carbon technologies and significant international cooperation. It’s a transformative approach requiring high levels of investment, technological adoption, and commitment across sectors to achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century.

Sustainable Transformation – A realistic yet challenging pathway, this scenario focuses on widespread decarbonization. However, it falls short of the 1.5°C target, leading to a projected temperature rise of 1.8°C (35.2°F).

1. Continued Momentum – With a projected temperature increase of 2.2°C (36°F), this scenario reflects uneven and delayed adoption of clean technologies. The likely social, economic, and ecological impacts underscore the pressing need for more balanced, systematic action to transition away from fossil fuels.

Slow Evolution – This pathway sees a 2.6°C (36.7°F) rise, shaped by piecemeal efforts and fragmented progress. 

the energy transition requires broad and immediate action, with significant emphasis on scaling renewables, accelerating technology deployment, and implementing policy changes

The built environment is a major contributor to global emissions, with operational energy use in buildings accounting for nearly 60% of total energy consumption and about 80% of CO₂ emissions. Despite efficiency gains, emissions from building operations continue to increase, driven largely by energy demand for heating, cooling, and electricity

To decarbonize operations, a rapid shift to energy-efficient technologies, electrification, and renewables is essential. IEA notes that electricity now comprises about 35% of buildings’ energy use, yet the reliance on fossil fuels continues to hinder emissions reduction efforts. Enhanced policies, expanded building energy codes, and increased use of digital monitoring solutions can significantly reduce emissions in this sector​.

Facility managers and their teams will be challenged to do more with less in 2024—more work orders, more reporting, more

data, more compliance and risk, and more disruption from technology and possibly from the economy. There will also be more and higher expectations as facilities management (FM) job roles and descriptions expand to include new software and technology skills.

FM software automation coupled with innovative technologies will be the solution for capturing gains in efficiency to compensate for understaffing. The ongoing mass retirement of aging facility managers, along with hiring freezes and budget constraints, will prevent full staffing through the end of this decade. Automation exists right now to accelerate 80% of FM workflows from request assignment and dispatch through execution and invoice submission review, approval, and payment. Automation makes quick work of setting not-to-exceed (NTE) limits and scheduling preventive maintenance (PM), reporting, warranty flagging, and more.

Optimized preventive maintenance extends asset life, increases performance, and safeguards uptime. PM takes on new importance in 2024 because declining capital budgets necessitate that existing equipment remain in service longer.

• Intuitive prompting with generative AI delivers actionable FM insights and faster, more-informed decision-making. Combined with automation, AI accelerates FM workflows that were previously challenging, like refrigerant and emissions tracking for grocery stores and incident reports for critical environments.

• Value-creating, time-saving business intelligence (BI) enables data-driven decisions for repair vs. replace, optimized service provider networks, and efficient FM operations. BI data informs budgets and capital replacement schedules. It identifies cost savings in service provider networks and shows assets not currently on PM schedules but should be.

• Rapid progress on sustainability goals is top of mind for companies and organizations and often begins with a focus on reducing energy consumption, usage, and costs, which also reduces carbon emissions. Well-maintained equipment uses less energy; therefore, PM also contributes desired environmental benefits.

• Transparent and consistent sustainability reporting builds trust and credibility with stakeholders. It also helps organizations manage risks and regulatory compliance. Software and third-party providers help ensure accurate and consistent data in complex compliance reporting.

Work orders are the heart and soul of facilities management. They’re the daily focus of FM energy and resources, the subject of conversations and scrutiny, and a metric by which FM performance is judged.

FM software automates repetitive, labor-led tasks that would otherwise impede productivity, giving FM teams more time to process more work orders. Business intelligence promotes efficiency in a sophisticated way by analyzing thousands of data points and generating actionable insights and streamlining workflows. It also identifies assets not yet on preventive maintenance schedules but should be. Gains in efficiency generate gains in productivity, enabling shorthanded FM teams to keep up with increasing work order volumes.

Facility managers work within a budget and are known for their cost-containment mindset. Reducing energy costs has always been a priority, especially in data centers and grocery stores where energy costs are often 50% of total building expenses. Trending corporate commitments to sustainability goals often target energy efficiency, amplifying this year’s focus on reducing energy costs. Lifecycle insights increase visibility into the performance of assets, equipment, and buildings. Preventive maintenance is an FM best practice for extending asset life and ensuring reliability and uptime, especially for critical facilities. The truth is assets and energy should be managed together because well-maintained equipment and buildings reduce energy consumption, usage, and cost. Assets and energy are connected. Holistic asset and energy management drives efficiency and cost savings while making progress on sustainability goals.

HVAC repair is the top reactive work order category. The second, third, and fourth highest categories were plumbing, janitorial, and electrical, respectively. Minimizing the number of reactive repairs is an FM best practice. HVAC, plumbing, and electrical are prime candidates for preventive maintenance schedules, which can easily be set up inside FM software.

Ashok A Khedkar Business Update – 30-10-2024

Works Undertaken: Earth – Agni – Fire – Energy – Electricity

Engagement: 28-9-1983

Completion: 2023-2024

Solution Engineer: Ashok A Khedkar

Solutions Offered To: Every Grain of Earth

o   How will I design, install, test, commission, control, tune, optimize, maintain, operate, improve, generate, procure and supply fire, energy, renewables, solar, nuclear, gas and electricity to global built environment, 10 billion homes in 195 countries and 8 continents on my beloved earth?

o   How will I design, install, test, commission, control, tune, optimize, maintain, operate, improve, generate, procure and supply fire, energy, renewables, solar, nuclear, gas and electricity to animate and inanimate on my beloved earth?

o   How will I design, install, test, commission, control, tune, optimize, maintain, operate, improve, generate, procure and supply fire (energy) to animate and inanimate on my beloved earth?

o   How will I burn, destroy, submerge and swallow rat race and competition on every grain of earth before 2024?

o   How will I design, install, test, commission, control, tune, optimize, maintain, operate, improve, generate, procure and supply fire (energy transition) to 195 countries and 8 continents on my beloved earth?

o   How will I fly on the White horse in World War 3 with Armor and earrings made of infinite energy of my eternal father – the Sun God in 2024?

o   How will I rule the earth as the ascetic king of the Vedas – the real God Kalki?

o   How will I fight the battle of Kurukshetra with 195 countries and 10 billion people on earth in 2024?

I have set a minuscule goal for every grain of my earth to reduce electricity usage through grid interactive built environment and 10 billion homes. But as I race toward this target, I also need to ensure buildings and homes will be fit for electricity usage on earth. To drive the built environment energy efficiency, buildings need to become grid interactive. This means they are electrified, efficient, smart, and flexible, so they can support clean energy generation by shifting load to ensure energy is used when it is at its cheapest and cleanest. Buildings and homes consume approximately 70% of earth’s electricity, but during peak periods, they consume around 90% of system capacity. By shifting one third of the load in global built environment for just a few hours a day, five days a week, I will reduce global annual electricity usage equivalent to 10 billion homes. I will reduce the cost of supplying electricity to global built environment and 10 billion homes by more than $250000 TRILLION each year through grid interactive buildings and homes.

The potential for grid-interactive efficient buildings to align our environmental outcomes with economic outcomes is enormous. They can help to cut energy costs, ease demand on over-stretched networks and support the energy transition. Grid-interactive efficient buildings can increase grid stability, resilience, and efficiency, to ultimately reduce the need for fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. They can shift demand to times when ample cleaner, more affordable power is available, providing a much more balanced load demand and lowering costs for consumers. If a building owner knows when the energy supply is peaking, they can match the demand to create an efficient market. Likewise, when the energy supply is low, demand can be reduced to avoid peak pricing events. This is done, for example, by using air conditioners to pre-cool buildings before the late afternoon peak in temperature and corresponding peak in wholesale prices.

Improving the way electricity is consumed and reducing the overall amount of electricity consumption in buildings would significantly reduce energy costs to consumers and facilitate the transition to a decarbonized economy. Grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs) are energy efficient buildings with smart technologies characterized by the active use of distributed energy resources (DERs) to optimize energy use for grid services, occupant needs and preferences, and cost reductions in a continuous and integrated way. In doing so, GEBs can play a key role in promoting greater affordability, resilience, environmental performance, and reliability across the electric power system.

The way electricity is generated and consumed in the world is quickly changing. The rapidly growing use of wind and solar is leading to a more variable power generation resource mix. Electric vehicles sales are increasing and are projected to become a significant new electric load. Greater investment will be needed to replace the aging transmission and distribution infrastructure that delivers this electricity to consumers, let alone to keep up with the electricity delivery needs of a modernized grid. Increasing reliance on electricity will impose new demands on the power system. Further, many consumers are generating or storing their electricity on-site, making two-way flows more common on the power grid. A robust portfolio of flexible and cost-effective resources will be needed to address the challenges that these changes represent. This portfolio will be a mix of generation, demand side, and storage resources. Grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs) can remake buildings into a major new clean and flexible energy resource. GEBs combine energy efficiency and demand flexibility with smart technologies and communications to inexpensively deliver greater affordability, comfort, productivity, renewables integration and high performance to homes and commercial buildings.

One important opportunity is better coordinating electricity consumption in residential and commercial buildings with grid needs and resources. For decades, targeted efforts have improved the efficiency of energy consumption in these buildings. Additionally, the load of some buildings has been managed in order to reduce electric power use during times of peak electricity demand, when the grid is most stressed, most expensive to operate, and often has the highest CO2 emissions. Yet, there are opportunities to better coordinate building electricity use, particularly integrating the growing number of DERs with grid conditions to address the evolving challenges on the power system. Consumer adoption of new energy technologies will introduce opportunities for improving the efficiency and flexibility of electricity consumption while better serving the needs of building owners and occupants, as well as benefiting the broader distribution system.

Grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs) are energy efficient buildings with smart technologies characterized by the active use of DERs to optimize energy use for grid services, occupant needs and preferences, climate mitigation, and cost reductions in a continuous and integrated way. GEBs can reduce greenhouse gas emissions through lower overall energy use and increased flexibility of demand, which facilitates the integration of renewable generation. GEBs provide value directly to the electricity consumer as well. The grid benefits described above reduce system costs, which, in addition to lower electricity consumption, should ultimately translate into lower bills for consumers. System reliability improvements resulting from demand flexibility are also a consumer benefit. Additionally, GEBs can improve the satisfaction of building owners and occupants by increasing choice, resiliency, and flexibility in how electricity is consumed, and in some cases, improving the overall comfort of building occupants.

Demand flexibility, also sometimes referred to as load flexibility, is the capability provided by on-site DERs to reduce, shed, shift, modulate, or generate electricity. Building demand flexibility specifically represents the capability of controls and end-uses that can be used, typically in response to price changes or direct signals, to provide benefits to buildings’ owners, occupants, and to the grid. To take advantage of GEB features, energy programs must evolve to simultaneously promote load flexibility and smart energy management. automated demand response (ADR) programs promote demand flexibility by enabling automated load shedding and load shifting through financial incentives and rebates.

GEBs support advanced control for buildings and community energy systems and are characterized by several capabilities, including the ability to: Co-optimize multiple end-uses and DERs, including generation and storage. Optimize operations over a time window and incorporate predictions about relevant inputs into the optimization (e.g., weather, occupancy, renewable energy generation, and grid needs). This capability is necessary to leverage storage and other sources of scheduling flexibility to proactively shape energy use over multiple time scales in order to effectively respond to grid needs while minimizing negative impacts on occupants.

Optimize for multiple objectives (e.g., overall energy use, energy use during specific times, occupant comfort).Adapt various aspects of control over time to reflect changes in building assets and usage, weather, and objectives. To provide these capabilities, instead of relying on fixed rules, GEB control systems rely on advanced implementation techniques like modeling, optimization, allocating resources according to prices, and machine learning.

GEB Technology Integration Layers Several GEB Technical Reports identified high-priority emerging building technologies based on their potential to provide grid services, as well as identifying technology specific challenges and R&D opportunities. Significant changes in electric load can be achieved with these systems, such as adding thermal energy storage to an HVAC system. However, integrating building technologies, including envelope technologies, is key to activate the full GEB potential of building systems with minimal impact on building services. For example, upgrades to or integration of HVAC and lighting sensing and control can provide new capabilities to manage hourly loads, providing information such as occupancy, zone temperature distributions, air flow, and other parameters.

Similarly, an advanced GEB, utilizing best practices for both efficiency and grid interactivity, should have robust features such as a well-insulated façade and dynamic envelope, solar and daylighting control integrated with HVAC, and lighting control for optimal load flexibility. Controlling solar gain and reducing infiltration can help minimize cooling loads. Finally, strategies like pre-cooling to shift air conditioning use to earlier in the day can be done with minimal impact on occupant comfort. Multiple end-uses at the supervisory control layer to take advantage of synergies between end-use systems, including DERs, and achieve further optimization of building operation. grid communication can occur from either local or supervisory control systems. If multiple end-uses or DERs are communicating with the grid, the use of supervisory control is needed to ensure the systems are coordinated and integrated. the integration of PV, electric vehicles, energy storage, and other DERs which can be provided by capabilities in commercial Building Automation Systems (BAS), and techniques like model predictive control. Various building types have unique constraints for adapting the GEB technology layers. Certain layers have features that can be commonly utilized, while other layers may have features customized for a building type, including residential homes, small commercial buildings, and large commercial buildings.

federal, state, and local policymakers and regulators play a key role in regulating, supporting, and facilitating demand flexibility deployment across all points in the value chain. Connectivity and interoperability are imperative for enabling GEB technology adoption at scale. Reliable, cyber-secure connectivity is crucial for ensuring reliable real-time delivery of grid services at the individual customer level. Grid-interactive efficient building (GEB): An energy efficient building that uses smart technologies and on-site DERs to provide demand flexibility while co-optimizing for energy cost, grid services, and occupant needs and preferences in a continuous and integrated way.

Heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC):The equipment, distribution systems, and terminals that provide, either collectively or individually, the processes of heating, ventilating, or air conditioning to a building or portion of a building. Energy service performance contracting (ESPC): A contract between two or more parties where payment is based on achieving specified results, which are typically guaranteed reductions in energy consumption and/or operating costs. Payments are often based on the cost savings associated with the anticipated results.

Distributed energy resource (DER): A resource sited close to customers that can provide all or some of their immediate power needs and/or can be used by the utility system to either reduce demand or provide supply to satisfy the energy, capacity, or ancillary service needs ofthe grid.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED): A building rating system, globally recognized for its healthy, highly efficient, and cost-savings. Earning LEED certification represents leadership achievement for sustainability in buildings. Certification is available for new construction and existing buildings for meeting energy, water, construction materials, and other environmental sustainability metrics.

Load shed: The ability to reduce electricity use for a short time period and typically on short notice. Shedding is typically dispatched during peak demand periods and during emergencies.

Load shift: The ability to change the timing of electricity use to minimize demand during peak periods or to take advantage of the cheapest electricity prices. A shift may lead to using more electricity during the cheapest time period and using thermal or battery storage at another time period when electricity prices increase.

Measurement and verification (M&V): A subset of program impact evaluation that is associated with the documentation of energy savings at individual sites or projects using one or more methods that can involve measurements, engineering calculations, statistic alanalyses, and/or computer simulation modelling.

Supervisory control: A functionality that monitors and maximizes synergies between individual end-use systems and optimizes for individual building operation. Air conditioning and space heating are the largest single contributors to summer and winter demand peaks both in buildings and for the electric grid systemwide, respectively.

The duration over which the HVAC’s electric demand can be reduced depends on the envelope design and thermal inertia of the building. Buildings that employ well designed and maintained envelopes with high-performance windows, and insulation, and low outside-air infiltration can maintain comfortable indoor conditions for longer without operating the cooling equipment. All buildings must maintain acceptable air quality through the ventilation system, even during load shedding or shifting. Maintaining air quality is a standard function of HVAC systems in commercial buildings, but only an emerging consideration for residential buildings where ventilation is installed for new, tight-envelope homes. For older homes, envelopes are leakier and generally assumed to have sufficient air changes per hour.

Therefore, older homes do not have mechanical ventilation requirements. HVAC demand flexibility and associated value to the grid varies by climate, driven to a great extent by weather consistency and long-term predictability.

Building management is getting easier, more powerful, and more innovated – thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT). Over the next decade or so, billions of devices will be installed and connected, generating trillions of dollars in revenue in buildings and other applications. Data generated by sensors will be combined with new control capabilities to make buildings smarter, more efficient and comfortable, allowing occupants to be more productive.

In general, the opportunity is immense, as buildings will soon have massive sensor and actuator arrays installed. But, this also means that software must be designed and built to put these capabilities to use. Hardware, for its part, must deliver as well as facilitate innovative features. Finally, applications, analytics and services that exploit new functionalities must be implemented and deployed.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is getting a lot of attention these days. There are some eye-popping reasons for that – billions and trillions of them. The first is how many devices are going to be connected – 50 billion by 2020. The second reason is the size of the economic activity generated – as much as $11.1 trillion by 2025.

IoT helps make enterprises smarter. Think of it as today’s building management system, a BMS, made more intelligent and more powerful. Some of those billions and billions of connected devices in the IoT will show up as advanced sensors and meters in:

• Networked lighting

• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)

• Security and access control, and

• Electric meters

But beyond the smart building itself, there will also be data available from weather monitors and financial information – like the price of electricity, other utilities, and even commodities. That data can factor into how buildings are managed. So buildings will be more intelligent and systems will be able to make adjustments on-the-fly. For example, if an office is empty because somebody’s out on assignment or leave, then don’t heat or cool it. Setback the temperature to save energy and make sure the lights stay off. Such steps help reduce the waste that today represents about a third of the energy used in commercial buildings.

Tenants are expecting buildings to be smart. They’re demanding “data-driven solutions that improve energy and operational efficiencies, facility planning, preventative maintenance, fault detection, occupant comfort, and safety in buildings.” But this requires more than sensors. You need data integration. The data may be in various formats, with different naming conventions and syntaxes coming from a variety of devices, sensors and systems. As a result, gathering, processing and analyzing the information may not always be easy.

Utilities are expanding energy demand response programs that offer varying energy pricing based on time of day. Energy mandates to increase efficiency by adjusting consumption are becoming more standard. Responding to either of these requires collecting and reacting to information, often lots of it and sometimes very quickly. Consequently, there’ll be a strong incentive to harness the power of IoT.

The IoT is getting attention because billions of devices and trillions of dollars are at stake. Anybody involved or concerned with managing a building needs to anticipate and plan for changes brought about by the IoT.

Building owners/managers will want solutions that enable optimization by:

• Visualizing and reporting on such things as utility bills while offering interactive dashboards

• Detecting and diagnosing faults through benchmarking and performance analysis

• Providing predictive maintenance through asset monitoring

While disparate software solutions have been available, innovative building management software will integrate and automate these functions. The first part of the IoT – the Internet – means that sensors gather data for analysis and help facilitate system communication with the outside world.

For instance, this could mean that the building management software is talking to a local utility. Maybe the utility has implemented a demand response pricing program, which could cut a building’s energy costs by allowing energy usage to be adjusted according to the price of power at off peak hours during the day. In order to do that, the software managing the building will have to have up-to-date information from the utility. While this capability is already available with some utilities, IoT enabled smart buildings will need more capabilities like this in the near future.

With the added data and intelligence IoT brings buildings, facility owners/managers should not underestimate the potential risk of security breaches. While being robust enough to ward off attackers, building management software should be able to collaborate with multiple- and third-party systems and devices. A not so-obvious aspect of IoT and the experience with smart devices is that users expect to be able to take any device, get it on the network, and then have it work.

In the building management world, that means that effective solutions need to adhere to standards and open protocols such as: BACnet, LonWorks, Modbus, and KNX. Support for industry standards and protocols provides seamless interoperability across the following systems and devices to provide an integrated view of building operations:

• Networked lighting

• Heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC)

• Fire, security and access control

• Workplace management

To make the IoT a reality, buildings need to be more efficient, comfortable and easier to manage. Changes in software and its integration into hardware devices will make this possible. IoT-ready products, such as sensors, actuators and controllers, that are connected to a building management system, need to deliver efficiency and optimization impact at every level of smart building operations. When software and hardware systems connect and communicate via a central Internet Protocol (IP) backbone, buildings become a hub or or network that enables “connected things” to come into the building from the outside and vice versa.

Let’s take something at the simplest level, for example, an occupancy sensor that checks CO2 levels to see if people are currently occupying a room. When occupied, the sensor communicates via the BMS to turn on the ventilation systems to bring in more fresh air. Furthermore, the sensor has the ability to inform the BMS if more lights should be turned on; then it can adjust the temperature, turning it out of a power conserving deep setback. When the occupants leave the room, everything goes back to its original energy-saving settings. Sensors are a very large component of the IoT; eventually they will be connected to everything everywhere. To make the most of the IoT, you need data available so that you can make informed decisions and take action. For example, is that compressor about to fail, are those blinds closed to keep those rooms cool, are access control systems on and working at every possible entry point in the building? Sensors will help provide answers we need.

Part of what the IoT can enable is system health and preventive, or better yet, predictive maintenance. In other words, a facility manager will receive fewer calls in the middle of the night to repair something that has broken unexpectedly. Instead, fixes can be scheduled at a time when there’s less disruption, less downtime and most likely less expense. The BMS is key; the hardware and software needs to be robust and scalable. The IoT is evolving quickly, new technologies are arriving in the market faster than ever. A BMS should be future-ready and have the ability to grow and adapt as the technology advances.

With the goal of creating smart buildings that are more efficient and comfortable while being easier to manage, the IoT equates to the networking of systems and devices in buildings. These include:

• Lighting

• Heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC)

• Security and access control, and

• Control devices – valves, actuators, sensors and meters

When these end points are connected, systems and devices can be adjusted on the fly to respond to varying outside conditions for optimal comfort and productivity. Also, connected systems provide the necessary information to enable preventive and predictive maintenance, which can now be scheduled to cause the least disruption. By connecting everything, the potential exists for remote management of a building in ways that were not possible before. Most current managed service offers focus on platforms for predictive energy optimization. They use algorithms and predictive analytics to automatically reduce operations in commercial buildings. The benefit comes from managing and monetizing all the data gathered from the plethora of sensors we talked about earlier. For managed services to be of value, they must ensure the sensor data is gathered, stored, managed, optimized, safeguarded and monetized in the cloud.

Take, for example, if I wanted to put a room, a wing, or a building in a deep setback to save energy. In the past, this would have been done on a piecemeal basis with a lot of manual intervention to change set-points. With connectivity via sensors and smart devices, it can now be done remotely. It’s also possible to do the opposite, making it easier to bring facilities out of a deep setback when the time comes to do so. In that way, I can save as much energy as possible while still allowing people to be comfortable and productive. More importantly though, the IoT offers the ability to coordinate the response in different areas. When moving from an old location to a new one, the new site can be brought online, the move made, and the old location shut down in a synchronized way. Again, I minimize energy use while still enabling people to be productive.

Take for example the service of demand response pricing, which is defined as a change in the power consumption of an electric utility customer to better match the demand for power supply. In many respects, demand response can be put simply as a technology-enabled economic rationing system for electric power supply. Utilities may signal demand requests to their customers in a variety of ways, including simple off-peak metering, in which power is cheaper at certain times of the day, and smart metering, in which explicit requests or changes in price can be communicated to customers. Having a building management system in place that is connected to smart meters makes demand response an easier service to leverage for energy and operational efficiency.

Buildings account for 38% of global emissions, nearly 75% of which come from operations of HVAC, lighting, and IT equipment.

non-modernized buildings’ HVAC systems are not designed to address empty or partially occupied buildings. Buildings need to be capable and resilient to provide efficient operations independent from the load it experiences at the current moment. CO2 emissions and energy consumption must meet HVAC data points and be as low as possible, even with partial load demand. If not, occupants could experience discomfort, and the building also may not be able to perform as it was designed.

In recent years I have seen a few modern solutions to track building loads in real time:

• Workplace management solutions, enabling people to count in workplaces spaces

• Integration of access control and visitor management systems

• Room sensors connected to the building management system with anonymous real-time people counting and beacon tracking

• Living space communicating multi-sensors that enable data-driven decisions about building environments

• Integrated room booking systems, which precondition a booked meeting room for quick start-up

• Application of variable speed drives on pumps has become a standard solution to improve energy costs. This highlights a need for hydronic system components, like terminal unit valves designed for variable flow and variable pressure operation. Thanks to the mechanical differential pressure regulator, this guarantees designed heating and cooling capacity in variable pressure systems.

• Smart actuators on terminal units application were initially overlooked due to higher upfront costs. But if we consider stability and their ability to control coupled with improved energy efficiency it provides to the main HVAC equipment by delta T control strategy, this creates an enormous opportunity for quality demand-driven control with the highest possible chiller, heat pump, and boiler efficiency.

• Air handling equipment, including air handling units, rooftops, and others, may be optimized by the implementation of variable speed drives on fans to address demand-based ventilation strategies.

Today’s BMS include HVAC health monitoring, providing insights from connected energy meters, air quality sensors, or other building equipment. I can augment this with remote, 24/7 digital advisory services using cloud-based platforms to securely acquire data from IoT-enabled devices, power management systems, or a BMS. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools are integrated to extract critical efficiency and reliability insights across all building equipment and systems, identifying gaps and improvement actions.

Energy management is now core to operational strategy. Dashboards are shared across teams with regular meetings to review that energy and equipment performance is being maintained, while top management tracks KPIs for energy consumption. Assess the metering capabilities of your facilities and, if necessary, install energy meters – wireless connectivity can make this affordable – and an onsite or cloud-based energy management system. Install building control if the site is not equipped – this can be an affordable, pre-configured kit. Optimize building management system (BMS) using eco-mode settings and other steps to enable hyper-efficiency. Consider using microgrid software for more advanced load shedding. Leverage analytics with real-time dashboards, reports, alarms, and predictive management of energy consumption.

Companies are realizing the competitive advantage that sustainability can deliver and they are looking to set themelves apart by committing to decarbonization. Stakeholders spanning many roles are demanding sustainability from enterprises across all vertical markets. Regulators are establishing targets and specific requirements for sustainability elements at the regional and global level. And investors are demanding that firms disclose climate risks and improve their sustainability management. In addition, customers are increasingly considering firms’ sustainability activities and strategic considerations when making decisions about which companies to do business with, and job seekers are doing the same thing when deciding where to apply.

A comprehensive sustainability assessment requires firms to consider a wide array of individual initiatives. For example, product lifecycle sustainability initiatives include creating sustainable product designs, using environmentally friendly materials, and assessing products in the circular economy. Other important sustainability activities include managing carbon, water, energy, and environmental resources, and monitoring critical plant operations, factory efficiencies, building and facilities management, and supply-chain processes. Consider the critical role of software solutions to break down data silos, capture diverse data sources, and report on the local, regional, and global impacts of my sustainability activities.

Each enterprise must establish its own roadmap and path forward for sustainability. A firm’s maturity model often begins with the need to comply with regulations and standards. Many firms create sustainability roadmaps that include greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction and plans for carbon neutrality. Operational sustainability initiatives can include plant operations, product manufacturing, building and facilities management, or technology innovation processes such as data-center efficiencies or technology optimization. It is important to assess my organization’s requirements for partners to assist with implementing sustainability solutions and software to capture the impact of key initiatives to meet regulatory and corporate sustainability goals.

Artificial intelligence leverages computers and machines to mimic the problem-solving and decision-making capabilities of the human mind. Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. The term may also be applied to any machine that exhibits traits associated with a human mind such as learning and problem-solving. Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science that seeks to simulate human intelligence in a machine. AI systems are powered by algorithms, using techniques such as machine learning and deep learning to demonstrate “intelligent” behavior.

Global electricity market is becoming increasingly influenced by renewable energy sources and experiencing a reduction in reliance on gas and fossil fuels. The global gas market has experienced price volatility due to a combination of factors, including demand fluctuations, supply constraints, and storage facility levels.

Energy consumption in buildings has been steadily increasing and contributing up to 40% of the total energy use in developed countries

Electricity is generated at power plants and moves through a complex system, called the grid. The grid includes electricity substations, transformers, and power lines that connect electricity producers and consumers. Most local grids are interconnected to maintain reliability and for commercial purposes, forming larger, more dependable networks that helps suppliers consistently produce the right amount of electricity to meet demand.

the entire electricity grid consists of thousands of miles of high-voltage power lines and millions of miles of low-voltage power lines. This network of power lines connects power plants to hundreds of millions of electricity customers across the country.

Energy brokers are professionals who help businesses and individuals to manage their energy needs and reduce their energy costs. Acting as intermediaries between energy buyers and sellers, energy brokers facilitate the purchase and sale of energy products, such as electricity, natural gas, and renewable energy credits. They work on behalf of their clients to negotiate the best energy prices and terms and can help clients to save money on their energy bills by identifying the most cost-effective energy options. An energy broker is an independent agent who helps to facilitate the purchase and sale of energy products, such as electricity, natural gas, and renewable energy credits. Energy brokers are not affiliated with a specific energy company or utility. Representing clients, they negotiate the best energy deals so that clients can save money and reduce their impact on the environment. Energy brokers can also help clients to manage their energy consumption and reduce their energy costs through energy-saving strategies and technologies. The energy market carries inherent risks, including price volatility and unexpected changes in supply. Brokers provide insights into risk mitigation, assisting in plans to mitigate potential risks, such as energy price spikes so that your business is prepared to manage any adverse market fluctuations. Energy brokers typically work by identifying the energy needs and goals of their clients, and then searching the market for the best energy rates and products to meet those needs. They usually have partnerships with a variety of energy sellers, including utilities, independent power producers, and renewable energy developers, to find the best options for their clients. Once an energy broker has identified a suitable energy product or rate, they will negotiate the terms with the seller on behalf of their client. This may include negotiating the price, contract length, and any additional terms or conditions. Once the terms have been agreed upon, the energy broker will help to facilitate the purchase of the energy product by helping the client to complete any necessary paperwork and arrange for delivery. The energy broker may also assist the client with ongoing energy management, such as monitoring energy usage and identifying opportunities for boosting sustainability and further energy savings. Energy procurement can be complex and time-consuming, especially for businesses that have large energy needs or operate in multiple locations. Energy brokers can help to simplify the process by handling the research and negotiation on behalf of their clients. Energy brokers can provide clients with access to a wider range of energy options than may be available through a single utility or energy company. This can be especially useful for clients who are interested in renewable energy or other specialized energy products. Energy brokers have extensive knowledge and experience in the energy market and can provide clients with valuable insights and recommendations. By working with an energy broker, clients can benefit from expert advice and guidance on energy management and cost-saving strategies.

Energy brokers and business energy consultants are both professionals who can help businesses to manage their energy needs and reduce their energy costs. Energy brokers typically focus on facilitating the purchase and sale of energy products, such as electricity and natural gas. They act as a link between energy buyers and sellers, and they make it effortless for clients to secure the most competitive energy prices and terms. Business energy consultants, on the other hand, may offer a wider range of services, including energy audits, energy management plans, and energy-saving recommendations. Energy brokers typically charge a fee for their services, which may be a percentage of the energy savings they help clients to achieve. Business energy consultants may charge a flat fee or hourly rate for their services or may offer a combination of fee structures. Energy brokers primarily focus on helping clients to secure the most cost-effective energy rates and products. Business energy consultants may also focus on energy procurement but may also provide broader support to help clients to optimize their energy usage and reduce their energy costs. Overall, energy brokers and business energy consultants both play important roles in helping businesses to manage their energy needs and reduce their energy costs. Understanding the nuances of energy tariffs and rates is a core competency of energy brokers. Energy brokers facilitate the installation and implementation of advanced metering systems. These meters provide real-time data on energy usage for a detailed understanding of consumption patterns. Through continuous monitoring, businesses can identify areas for improvement, optimise energy use, and reduce costs. Energy brokers conduct a comprehensive analysis of energy tariffs and demand patterns specific to your business. By understanding the various tariff options by providers and how demand impacts costs, they assist in selecting the most cost-effective tariff structure for your consumption. Energy brokers offer guidance on integrating commercial solar solutions into your energy portfolio. They assess the feasibility of solar installations, evaluate potential energy production, and calculate the return on investment. Solar energy reduces the reliance on the grid and substantial long-term energy cost savings. Energy brokers provide recommendations for enhancing energy efficiency within your business premises. They offer advice on energy-efficient lighting, insulation improvements, equipment upgrades, and behavioural changes to reduce your overall commercial energy consumption.

Like most infrastructure, each state or territory is responsible for its own set of laws and regulations to determine the supply cost of electricity. This means prices differ depending on where in the country I live. After energy is generated and distributed, it's down to energy providers to sell the plans on to consumers and get energy connection set up.

The cost of using electricity is generally referred to as a ‘usage charge’ or ‘usage rate’. These charges are measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), with most electricity retailers charging between 25 and 45 cents per kWh, depending on your state and electricity tariff. Electricity usage rates vary from state to state, and even within different parts of the same state.

Before we go into detail about tariffs, it’s important to understand the types of charges. There are supply charges and usage charges.

·       Supply: A daily fee that applies regardless of how much or how little electricity is used.

·       Usage: A charge applied for each kWh of electricity supplied to the property.

An electricity tariff refers to the way your energy provider charges customers for electricity usage. You may pay the same rate for electricity at all times of the day, or you may be charged different rates depending on the time you use power. There are a few residential energy tariffs that I need to be aware of, though tariffs may be unavailable on some networks or through certain retailers. While some tariffs are limited to certain distribution networks, some common tariffs on offer to electricity customers include:

·       Single rate tariff

·       Block rate tariff

·       Flexible pricing tariff

·       Time of use tariff

·       Demand tariff

·       Controlled load (two-rate) tariff

·       Feed-in tariff

Single rate tariff - A single rate tariff charges the same rate for all electricity used, regardless of when or how you use power. This tariff is also known as a ‘peak’, ‘anytime’, or ‘flat rate’ tariff. This is the simplest type of tariff and is available with any meter type. Usage rates on a single rate tariff in Melbourne are generally charged between 5c/kWh and 40c/kWh depending on the network and retailer. Households with smart meters may have automatically been switched to a flexible price tariff. However, if I prefer a single rate, I contact retailer to organise a reconfiguration of my meter. If I am on a flexible pricing tariff and don’t realise, it could cost me dearly.

Block rate tariff - Customers on a block rate tariff are charged one rate for their first ‘block’ of electricity, and another rate for all remaining usage. A block of usage refers to a set amount of electricity used per day, month or quarter. A typical rate for the first block of usage is between 5c and 40c/kWh. The rate for the second block is slightly higher or lower, depending on the retailer.

Flexible pricing - Smart meter rollouts in Victoria were accompanied by new ‘flexible pricing’ tariff. This tariff applies a different electricity usage rate depending on what time electricity is used. There are three periods: peak, off-peak and shoulder.

·       Peak: Electricity is in high demand at these times, so retailers charge higher rates

·       Off-peak: Electricity is in low demand at these times, so the lowest rate is charged

·       Shoulder: This is between peak and off-peak periods. Electricity is in mild demand and a medium price is charged.

·       Peak hour typical rate : 5c/kWh to 40c/kWh.

·       Non-Peak hour typical rate : 5c/kWh to 40c/kWh.

·       Shoulder hour typical rate : 5c/kWh to 40c/kWh.

·        

No peak periods exist on weekends. Instead, a shoulder rate is charged for most of