7/30/2019 Maximizing ROI in Integrated BMS

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Advanced Control Applications

A BMS can perform a number of advanced

applications, often with only software

changes:

Follow Sunrise and

Sunset. A BMS computes

sunrise and sunset based on

the building's latitude and

longitude, and varies lighting

schedules (such as for

parking lots, signs, and

outdoor access lighting)

throughout the year as the

length of daylight changes.

Demand Limiting or Load

Shedding. A BMS monitors

electric meters and current

draw on high-demand

equipment, and then relaxes

setpoints to immediately

reduce demand. This allows

the facility to shed electric

load to avoid peak utility

charges.

Remote Data Access.

Properties spread over

different geographical

locations can be

interconnected so managers

can access real-time data

over the Internet to be used

for remote monitoring,

facility management,

analysis, and control.

11/01/2007

Maximizing ROI in an Integrated BMS

By making the most of building management systems, building managers have the opportunity to improve

employee productivity and save capital and operating expenditures

By Cliff Holbeck

A state-of-the-art building management system (BMS)

enables superior integration between systems, including

information technology (IT), sophisticated single-point-

of-control security, and ongoing energy cost savings for the

life of the building.

Today, the BMS not only maintains specifications for heating,

cooling, and ventilation, but also supports energy

conservation and emergency-response procedures, and even

monitors independent power supplies. Sophisticated security

systems that combine access controls and closed-circuit

television also work in concert with the BMS. A BMS enables

employees and occupants of a facility to be more productive.

Investing in a BMS can save more than 14 percent in annual

costs measured in lost productivity, according to studies by

the Atlanta-based American Society of Heating, Refrigerating

and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

Integrating environmental, emergency, and security into asingle BMS decreases expenses by allowing operators to drive

performance metrics in complete alignment with business

objectives for entire buildings, campuses, and multi-regional

facilities. This integration can save up to 24 percent in capital

expenditures for installation and 35 percent in operating

expenditures over time. An integrated BMS even has the

design flexibility to allow moves, additions, and changes to

commercial office layouts or usage patterns without additional

investment in the system.

Energy conservation can be administered with a

comprehensive plan tied to occupancy and usage based on

integrated access control and environmental systems.

Environmental systems can also react to security and

emergency requirements through automatic shutdown

procedures based on preset specifications.

An integrated BMS allows for the convergence of facilities

management and IT through a common IP network, whichavoids duplicating multiple networks and operating

environments. Additionally, technology advancements allow

the BMS to be integrated into the existing IT infrastructure,

enabling smooth BMS upgrades and extending building

controls to other business systems. These systems benefit

from centralized monitoring and synchronization with

environmental, emergency, and security systems.

According to studies by the Converged Building Technologies

Group (CBTG), the payback of a fully integrated approach to

the BMS and IT begins in the early stages of installation and

continues throughout the life-cycle of the systems. For

example, having one team for project design and

development eliminates communications problems in

organizing and scheduling the project.

Integrating security and systems with fire alarms and public

address and evacuation systems on the same network with

the BMS saves 35 percent of installation costs. Combiningclosed-circuit television with the BMS on this same network saves another 24 percent, CBTG research explains. Over a

30-year life-cycle for an integrated building, operational costs are reduced by an additional 35 percent per year.

Using an integrated BMS to manage the facility increases employee productivity and saves energy and operating

costs. The good news for building managers, who are entrusted to optimize the performance of commercial buildings,

is that there are more opportunities than ever before to maximize return on investment in an integrated BMS.

Cliff Holbeck is business development manager with Carrollton, TX-based TAC(www.tac.com),a world leader in

building automation, security systems, and energy services.

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