Using Smart Technology to Save Energy in Buildings

Smart technology is the wave of the future - and the future is now.

From smartphones and electronics to smart wearables, people are using technology to streamline, automate and synchronize everyday activities across multiple devices.

Now, smart buildings have joined the fray. By incorporating smart technology into a building's systems, businesses can achieve tremendous energy savings, optimized operations, lower overhead costs, and improved performance and productivity. No wonder that the smart building market is expected to hit more than $265 billion by 2028 - large businesses believe that investing in smart technology is a great way to achieve both short- and long-term benefits.

What is a "smart building?"

According to "Smart Buildings: Using Smart Technology to Save Energy in Existing Buildings" by Jennifer King and Christopher Perry, smart buildings "enable automated building operations and control" which can "enhance occupants' comfort and productivity while using less energy than a conventional building."

Conventional buildings have systems that operate independently (and thus, inefficiently), while smart buildings connect a building and systems together, which improves the entire building's operations and performance.

Integrating smart technology throughout a building or system is also much more effective than making single building upgrades. In fact, while single upgrades can yield energy savings up to 15%, an integrated smart building can save more than three times that amount, with smart technology saving up to 30–50% over their energy-inefficient counterparts.

Smart buildings go beyond the traditional office and now encompass a whole range of building and facility types. In this article, we will discuss the smart technology opportunities you can implement at your building or facility, as well as your potential energy savings.

HVAC

According to the Energy Information Administration, HVAC systems typically consume an astonishing 40% of a commercial building's energy, far and away the most of any system. However, many HVACs consume even more than that, as nearly one-third of HVACs are oversized for the space they serve. Despite these costs, occupant's comfort oftentimes takes higher priority, resulting in tremendous energy loss. Smart HVAC systems can not only reduce energy consumption, but can also maintain, or even enhance, occupant comfort.

Smart building software monitors and controls information from a variety of HVAC sensor points in real-time, in a remotely accessible, cloud-based system. Smart HVACs use this data to decrease energy consumption in empty locations, detect and diagnose faults, and increase/reduce HVAC use based on occupancy, time of day, and times of peak energy demand. Meanwhile, HVAC smart thermostats allow operators to monitor and adjust temperature settings in real-time, anytime and anywhere, or set automated controls that adjust according to instructions pre-set by the operator.

HVAC variable frequency drive savings: 15–50%
HVAC smart thermostat savings: 5–10%

Lighting

Smart lighting goes far beyond switching to LED bulbs, manual dimming, and timer switches. While LED retrofits can save up to 30%, advanced lighting controls can save an additional 44%, as well as a pay for themselves in less than five years. It is estimated that if advanced lighting controls were implemented on every existing U.S. commercial building, the cumulative energy savings would be $10.4 billion every year.

Smart lighting systems utilize advanced controls to automatically eliminate overlit spaces. They can be accessed through web-based dashboards using lighting management platforms that allow operators to monitor and control lighting throughout the building or pre-schedule lighting based on time-of-day. When considering your options for retrofitting, note that incorporating wireless controls is a simpler process.

Advanced lighting controls savings: 45%
Fully integrated smart lighting systems savings: up to 90%

Window shading

While they don't get as much attention as HVAC and lighting systems, windows account for a significant loss of energy in commercial buildings, with nearly one-third of the energy from an HVAC system being lost through windows. Meanwhile, much of the cooling requirements for commercial buildings are a consequence of heat gain from sunlight streaming through windows. Window attachments and manual shades are a low-cost measure for saving energy, however they are oftentimes left lowered, with occupants turning on overhead lights instead of using daylight, counteracting their energy savings.

Smart window systems optimize the light entering a building in two ways: window glazing and films that respond to changes in sunlight or temperature; and pre-scheduled, auto-controlled shades that operate at specific times to control light levels. When considering your options, know that retrofitting buildings that have un-tinted, single-pane windows with smart shading technology saves the most energy

Automated window shading system savings: 21–38%
Switchable window shading film savings: 32–43%
Smart glass window shading savings: 20–30%

Plug loads

The amount of energy a device plugged into an electrical outlet draws is called its plug load. Because this includes everything plugged into electrical outlets (including computers, monitors, electronics, refrigerators) plug loads currently make up about 5% of a commercial building's electrical use. This includes "phantom load," which is the amount of electricity drawn from plugged-in devices that are turned off.

However, plug loads are often a lower priority for businesses after HVAC and lighting systems. Consequently, in high-performance, smart buildings, plug loads can now contribute up to 50% of the total energy consumption by default. Clearly, businesses should not overlook plug loads when implementing smart technology improvements.

Smart plug controls completely cut off power to equipment that isn't in use through auto-controlled receptacles, as well as through power strips that operate on time scheduling, motion sensing, or load detecting. Some smart power strips can even detect if a primary device (such as a computer) is on, off or on standby, and manage other devices in the area to account for its status.

Plug load smart plug savings: 50–60%
Plug load Advanced power strip savings: 25–50%

What should businesses do next?

For businesses looking to save energy, optimize operations, lower overhead costs, and improve performance and productivity, incorporating smart technology into your building is one of the wisest long-term investments you can make.

Read the full report to take a deeper dive into smart buildings and discover the many benefits of utilizing smart technology. If you're ready to consult with a SWEPCO energy services advisor on retrofitting your building with smart technology, please contact us at swepcosales@aep.com.