According to The US Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, commercial buildings utilize 35 percent of the electricity used in the U.S. Improving how we use energy in a building starts with a system that collects, monitors, and responds to important data points, allowing us to make positive changes. When designing an HVAC system for your commercial building, you should ask yourself a few questions to ensure the system will meet the building's needs.
5 Considerations When Designing A Commercial System
1. What are your building/operational goals?
The first step is to define what the goals are for your building or business operation, in the realm of HVAC needs. One example is indoor air quality, or IAQ. IAQ systems purify air, maintain humidity levels, and work to keep occupants healthy. You may also be looking into decarbonization to reduce energy use and emissions.
So what does this have to do with connecting your building? Your HVAC system can detect things like occupancy and humidity and adjust to run more efficiently and meet your goals.
2. How will you connect your building?
Once you've determined your goals, the next step is learning how to connect your building in terms of what will collect data and control the system's functions. For smaller spaces, a web-connected smart thermostat may suffice. For medium to large buildings, you may opt for a building automation system. Whatever system you choose should provide a secure and remote connection to your building, utilize cybersecurity protocols, and give you the flexibility to grow.
Another connection point to consider is the use of sensors throughout the building to help detect a room's temperature occupancy, humidity, or even CO2 levels.
3. How will your equipment and your building's system control communicate?
After having everything connected, you need to decide on how you want the controllers in the building to communicate. Wired operation will involve physical wires that connect equipment to the building automation system. IP wired communication can provide fast data speeds for complex control systems.
Wireless communication is also a popular choice due to its reliability and flexibility. It ensures that your building is more technologically advanced going forward, too.
4. How will your building be managed?
Now that your building is connected and communicating, you need a way to manage it all. A building management system (BMS) will identify trends within the data you're collecting to give you a better insight into everything. Choosing a BMS with secure remote access is also important so that you can access it from anywhere.
5. What actions will you take for your building?
Your building automation system should find ways for your HVAC systems to run more efficiently to help you meet your goals over time. As building system and user needs expand to more complex BMS needs, your automation system should provide flexibility and reliability.
If you live in the Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia area and would like to find comfort or improve efficiency in your commercial property, visit our website or give us a call at 215 - 245 - 3200 to learn more.
