Why Install a Building Management System?
Due to the current climate changes it has become imperative that energy consumers focus on lowering their Carbon Footprint. By utilizing BMS in their building this will make a building or premises more intelligent for Maintenance purposes and lower the Carbon Footprint.
Office or commercial buildings need to meet a range of specific design requirements, including legal requirements (e.g. sufficient lighting), technical requirements (e.g. networking and security), and to provide attractive work environment. Modern office buildings are often designed to provide a comfortable and attractive work environment for tertiary sector activities, such as finance and professional services, as this is known to increase work productivity.
Typically, the major electricity consumers in office buildings are:
- Heating Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC)
- Lighting
- Office Equipment
- Motors and Drives.
Increase of employment opportunities.
What does a Building Management System consist of?
Focus on a BMS system is mainly on reticulation, HVAC Systems and Lighting which consumes most Energy in Buildings. By ensuring that these systems are controlled and switched off during off-peak times will lower the Energy consumption and cost of running a building.
This is achieved my implementing Controls on the main consuming for example the lighting system. By installing occupancy sensors throughout the building energy consumption can be achieved even more, as lights will only go on once someone occupies the said office or premises. Lux meters can also be utilized which will monitor the sunlight in the building and will so lower the lighting. This will also conserve energy.
This is one of the biggest and most attractive portions of a BMS System. By contributing to saving money and the client making money by utilizing the system is a step towards conserving our Planet.
How can I lower Energy consumption even further?
There are many ways to lower Energy consumption. Here are a few tips on how to:
- Behavioural Change
- Air-Conditioning Interface
- Supply Air Control
- UPS and Generator Monitoring (Management of System)
- Basement Pump and Tank Monitoring (Fuel levels etc)
- Changing of light bulbs
- Controlling of Geyser
- Geyser blankets on all geysers
- Solar Power and Heating intervention
Effective awareness-raising was seen as key to successfully changing the behaviour of employees. Several measures, such as producing posters and information stickers, circulating regular energy facts via e-mail or intranet, or engaging with staff regarding electricity saving ideas, should be implemented.
Ceiling and / or insulation also plays a huge role, by keeping a building cool in the summer and warm in the winter will ensure lowering of energy consumption.
Colour of roof and walls will also impact on reflecting of sunlight which will effect / lower internal temperatures.
How will energy / carbon reduction affect me in the future?
The government is currently working on legislation pertaining buildings and households. This will mean that they will enforce energy conservation in all buildings to ensure they are up to Parr with the International Building Councils.
Carbon credits will in future be exchanged between Corporate Companies and the Agriculture / farmers who reduce / add to Carbon / greenhouse submission.
Question: What is a service level agreement?
Answer: A service-level agreement is a service contract where the level of service is stipulated. This is an un-negotiated agreement between two parties, namely the customer and the supplier. This is a legally binding contract and is sometimes referred to as an SLA. These are put in place to record a common understanding about services, guarantees, responsibilities, priorities and warranties.
Question: What are my benefits of having an Service Level Agreement?
Answer: With a Service Level Agreement your site will be under constant evaluation. You will have scheduled maintenance and there are site records and customer knowledge records kept.
Question: Will a Service level agreement save me money?
Answer: Most definitely! Call out fees today are very expensive and will be fully charged even if the call out wasn't warranted. We have seen that in most buildings that don't have Service Level Agreements, systems experience faster degeneration due to a lack of regular maintenance.
Question: Do I have to take out multiple service level agreements for my building in order to cover the security, energy management, HVAC etc.?
Answer: You will only need one Service Level Agreement, although sometimes there are multiple officers in charge of various systems and would prefer their Service Level Agreements to be separate. This is only done in special cases, however.
Question: Are there any extras that have to be paid in with a Service Level Agreement?
Answer: This will only depend on how the agreement is set up for you and which package you have taken. We prefer to retro-fit all Service Level Agreements to suit the needs of our customers.
Question: How do I monitor the Service Level Agreement?
Answer: All deliverables are reported on, making sure that you are in full control 24/7/365.
Question: What do I need to know when negotiating a Service Level Agreement?
Answer: Although Service Level Agreements are not all the same, we do suggest you do conduct a service assessment on what you currently have, asking questions such as: What services am I currently receiving? What am I currently not receiving that would be beneficial? How old is my equipment? Can I manage without my security equipment and the skill and knowledge service providers?
Question: Can I make changes in a Service Level Agreement?
Answer: Yes
Question: Are there different types of Service Level Agreements?
Answer: Yes. This is discussed and proposed after a thorough site survey and a requirements audit have both been completed.