Why do smart buildings consume more?

We are living in the era of “smart things”. From ubiquitous smartphones to entire cities, the pace of automation and modernization of the objects around us is mind-boggling. Buildings, where we spend most of our time, have not been left behind: with the intuition of optimizing management, reducing costs and increasing comfort, smart buildings are increasingly common in large cities in Brazil and around the world. According to the website arquitetura , smart buildings are “constructions designed for sustainable consumption, in order to (…) reduce waste and costs”, achieving the “comfort and well-being of their occupants”. To achieve this goal, we use advanced technology, with modern equipment connected to each other through control and automation processes. Generally, its main systems, such as air conditioning and lighting, are centrally monitored through a building automation system (BMS – Building Management System).

This explanation implies that the intelligent systems embedded in a smart building are intended to help the building achieve its primary objectives – providing comfort to its users – automatically and reducing waste. This seems like a formula for guaranteed success.

The influence of operation on energy waste in buildings

It has been increasingly noted that these smart buildings often do not actually consume less energy than regular buildings, sometimes with much higher energy consumption.

When visiting building attractions in Brazil in search of efficiency opportunities, the reasons are obvious. First, there is a very common occurrence among users of smart buildings: a feeling that since the building is already smart in itself, there is no need to make any additional efforts to make it even more efficient. As a result, simple precautions to combat waste, such as turning off the lights or performing maintenance, cease to be a priority and are forgotten.

The second reason, even more common than the first, is that smart systems are only smart when they are used. Unfortunately, there are many cases in which automation is simply disabled. This occurs for several reasons, which can usually be traced back to the transition moment between construction and operation. In the rush to deliver a project and open the building, there is no care taken to correctly program all control and automation interruptions, test the components, complete the commissioning process and carry out a proper handover of the system to the future operation and maintenance team. Often, the operation and maintenance team does not even know who designed, installed and programmed the system, much less has received training on how to control its settings, making the task of operating it efficiently impossible. Finally, the lack of training of BMS system operators is a constant. In addition to the system itself being complex, it is necessary to have a good understanding of the fundamentals of energy efficiency. However, basic technical training in Brazil is deficient in teaching efficient practices, and is only now beginning to make efforts to include energy efficiency in its curricula. In addition, the turnover of team members is very high, causing the knowledge acquired to be lost very quickly when there is no continuous energy management. Here are some examples that we frequently encounter in our energy audits, generally problems that existed for years, but that were not detected previously. Some of these measures have returns of less than a month, with savings of hundreds of thousands of reais per year:

• Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) programmed incorrectly
• Temperature and pressure sensors contain incorrect readings
• Chillers in manual mode
• Inefficiently programmed lighting
• Entire systems without periodic programming, operating 24 hours a day
• Inadequate temperature setpoints
• Defective valves

Although they seem simple, these problems last for years because the routine of a building manager often does not leave time to investigate improvements. Therefore, it is important to have the support of an energy efficiency specialist to identify opportunities and provide guidance on their implementation.

Solutions

There are, indeed, examples of smart buildings with low levels of energy consumption. How to ensure efficient consumption?

1. 1. Carrying out an Integrated Project for new buildings or renovations avoids problems during the building's delivery, ensuring not only that the designed intelligent systems are installed, but that all parameters and training are passed on to the O&M team.
   2. Contracting an Energy Diagnosis in existing buildings allows us to identify and eliminate inefficiencies and make the most of the potential of the installed systems.
   3. The training of building managers and operators needs to be done periodically, training them on the concepts of energy efficiency with practical and real examples.
   4. The implementation of an Energy Management program, with the help of specialists, is the real trump card, as it brings together all these strategies with a global vision that ensures a lasting reduction in consumption.

   We cannot forget that the key to the efficiency of buildings, whether intelligent or not, lies in the people.