The Top 5 Energy-Wasting Culprits in Large Buildings (and How Your BMS Can Find Them)
In the push towards net-zero and operational excellence, building managers often focus on major systems.
Significant energy waste in large commercial environments, including office complexes, healthcare facilities and university campuses often lurks in subtle, persistent inefficiencies. These 'culprits' quietly inflate costs and undermine sustainability goals.
A modern Building Energy Management System (BMS) is the essential tool for discovering these issues, transforming guesswork into actionable insight. The proper integration of a BMS system is essential to this discovery.
The Hidden Cost of Inefficiency
Large buildings are complex ecosystems where mechanical and electrical systems must work together. When they don't, small malfunctions or poorly executed controls can lead to quite substantial ongoing waste. Simple, fixed schedules are unable to adapt to dynamic, real-world conditions, which allows energy-wasting habits to become established and drives continuous, unnecessary consumption.
The Top 5 Energy Wasting Culprits
A BMS acts as the central intelligence, using thousands of sensors to gather granular energy data on temperature, occupancy, and system status. This data is key to identifying the five common offenders. This central intelligence capability is the symbol of a quality building management solution.
1. Simultaneous Heating and Cooling
This occurs when one part of the HVAC system is actively heating a zone while another part is simultaneously cooling it. This represents a profound inefficiency, frequently stemming from incorrectly calibrated dampers, faulty values or conflicting setpoints. The BMS pinpoints this waste by continuously comparing data streams from supply air temperatures, return air temperatures and valve positions. Once this has been identified this system automatically corrects the underlying control logic, ensuring all systems operate cooperatively rather than in opposition.
2. Running Equipment Beyond Occupancy
It’s often assumed that equipment must run for safety or stability, but conditioning zones long after staff or tenants have left is pure waste. This is particularly common in 24/7 facilities. The BMS uses Occupancy Based Control, linking data from presence sensors and access systems with HVAC and lighting controls.
Should an area remain conditioned despite being unoccupied after hours, the BMS detects this deviation from the expected performance profile and automatically initiates the rollback of setpoints or the reduction of ventilation rates.
3. Failed or ‘Stuck’ Dampers and Valves
Mechanical failure doesn't always lead to a complete system shutdown. Sometimes, a damper or valve simply sticks open or closed. A stuck open damper can mean a blast of cold outside air is constantly introduced and heated unnecessarily, while a stuck valve can lead to continuous heating of a zone.
Because the BMS continuously logs data on actuator position and energy consumption, it can identify a component operating outside its normal range, for example, a valve commanded to be 0% open that is drawing the energy of a 50% open valve, which allows facility teams to flag the maintenance and replacement costs before a full breakdown occurs.
4. Costly Peak Demand Charges
Peak energy charges, rather than overall consumption, can significantly inflate energy bills. These penalties are incurred when a building's collective energy draw exceeds a contracted threshold, usually for only a short period.
The BMS system features demand-limiting capabilities that continuously monitor energy usage. When consumption levels get close to the pre-set threshold, the BMS strategically drops non-critical loads, such as temporarily dimming lights or reducing the air flow in non-essential areas. This happens for brief intervals, thereby mitigating the costly tariff spike without compromising the occupants' comfort.
5. Phantom Loads and Uncontrolled Assets
'Phantom loads' refer to equipment pumps, fans, or auxiliary devices, that run continuously at full capacity when they could be cycled off or modulated. This is often the case with legacy equipment or systems not fully integrated into the BMS. By using its reporting and analytical features, the BMS can audit and benchmark all connected assets.
If the system detects a consistent energy draw overnight from an asset that should be offline, it provides tangible proof of waste and allows operators to adjust the associated control panel or schedule.
From Detection to Data-Driven Savings
The strength of a BMS is its ability to turn the analysis of these culprits into continuous, responsive control. The system leverages its integrated network to act upon the data, ensuring energy is only consumed where and when it is needed.
These innovative solutions are designed to leverage this vital data asset. Powered by industry-leading technology and expert teams, these systems help your building reduce energy consumption and save on energy costs. Our dedication to efficiency is a core value at BMSI.
If you are looking to capitalise on your energy data for a greener, more efficient, and financially sustainable future, contact the BMSI team today.
