Interview - Increasing A University’s Green Credentials

Replacing traditional energy sources on campuses entirely with renewable options is the ultimate goal to ensure university buildings achieve net zero. But this relies on funding and is a long-term project. What can be done in the meantime to reduce a university’s carbon footprint, decrease running costs, and improve the green credentials for prospective students?

In this interview, we spoke to Peter Ingram, Head of Sales BEMS UK, at Resource Data Management (RDM) who has over 20 years of experience in devising strategies to reduce a building’s energy use. He gave us insights into the practicalities of reducing the energy use of university buildings and actionable tips that institutions can use to reduce their carbon footprint.  

What are some of the challenges universities face when looking to save energy?

University campuses are very complex. They include many different types of buildings such as lecture halls, gyms, labs, student housing, and dining halls. Those buildings were often built at different times using different materials, they serve different functions and need to cater to different occupancies.

When it comes to the building management systems (BMS) that controls and monitors the HVAC infrastructure, there are often different BMS in each building that work with different strategies. Each building usually has a different rate of success in terms of energy efficiency and providing optimal comfort conditions to occupants.

Another challenge is the perceived cost of increasing a building’s energy efficiency. When looking at updating the HVAC system or BMS, costs may seem larger than they actually are. Upgrading the HVAC system can be seen as a large investment which is why it’s often not considered as an option. But costs can be much lower than anticipated and often be recuperated by a quick return on investment.

Let’s take a look at the challenge of having many different buildings on campus that were built at different times. How can universities incorporate them all into one energy saving strategy?

First, it’s important to review the existing HVAC controls building by building to assess the costs and benefits of upgrading versus replacing devices. Older HVAC systems are often inefficient compared to newer ones, so it is important to assess if it will be cost-effective to replace them.

It’s then essential to look at the strategy in place for controlling the HVAC system and review if it is effective so that changes can be made if needed. Things to consider here are if any systems, such as heating and cooling, are competing with each other, if setpoints are set correctly, or if any sensors can be added to the system to supply additional data.

If universities are looking to create one overarching energy saving strategy, it is important to choose one central front-end device or graphical user interface (GUI). If one central front-end is in place, all the different HVAC systems in each building can be controlled and managed from one login. This helps ensure that the different systems are working with rather than against each other and it provides energy data for the entire system in one central location. It’s also very easy for facility managers to review settings, and monitor the systems for faults to ensure they are fixed before they cause issues.  

Different buildings might include HVAC systems from different manufacturers. How can they be integrated into one central front-end system?

If the central front-end system communicates via open protocols, existing HVAC devices can be linked to this central front-end even if they are from different manufacturers. This can offer huge cost-savings during the install and as a result a quick return on investment. When organisations look into using open protocol front-end devices, this is where they realise that project costs are smaller than first anticipated.

Why do organisations find that costs are smaller than they initially thought when they’re using open protocols?

Because it’s not necessary to replace the whole HVAC infrastructure. It’s possible to only replace the equipment that is underperforming or has failed and leave the well-functioning equipment in place. That way, universities can reduce the capital outlay but improve their efficiency and indoor comfort conditions. The equipment that is kept in place only needs to be replaced if and when it fails.

Are there any other energy-saving measures that can be taken without a big investment?

When upgrading the HVAC control strategy, very simple changes can make a huge different in cost savings. Installing additional sensors and then incorporating them into the BMS strategy can be a cost-effective way to reduce energy use and increase comfort levels.

For example, adding door and window sensors can signal the HVAC system to stop running if either are opened. Occupancy sensors can ensure that lights are turned off if rooms are unoccupied.

It’s also possible to create a ‘last person out’ strategy which can have huge energy saving effects. The idea behind this strategy is that once the last person leaves a building, all non-essential equipment can be switched off. Using a BMS automation software, this process can be automated.

This type of strategy can be very useful for staff-occupied areas such as kitchens in the dining halls, labs, or gyms, where specific instructions can be given to employees as part of their end-of-day procedure.

For example, when the last employee leaves the building and switches on the intruder alarm, this will signal the BMS to turn off all non-essential equipment. Anything that is deemed non-essential can be switched off once the building, or a specific area in the building, is unoccupied including all lights apart from emergency lighting, gym equipment, and ovens.

The heating can also be tied into the ‘last person out’ strategy. When this strategy is triggered, it can lower the heating setpoints to ensure the heating is not running at full power while no one is in the building.

Updating the heating and cooling strategy to be demand-led, instead of set to ‘always on’ will lead to energy savings and the comfort levels will increase.

Can universities make use of district heating on their campuses to lower energy costs?

Yes, they in fact have multiple options to do so. They can either tap into one huge energy source from their local community or create building-by-building district heating systems. Either way, they effective control is key to ensure it works as efficiently as possible. This means adding demand-led control strategies and sensible set points, as well as measures to eliminate energy waste. One example of preventing energy waste would be adding sensors and strategies to ensure the heating is turned off when windows are opened.

What are some of the first steps universities can take to implement a new, energy-saving BMS?

First, it’s essential to review the current HVAC control system and infrastructure to determine where the problems lie. Then, it’s important to install a single front-end device to oversee all HVAC systems.

It is then important to review which controllers are inefficient or broken, and only replacing those, not the entire systems. If the front-end device is based on open protocols, it will allow universities to replace only the ones the ones that need to be replaced and leave well-functioning equipment in place.

If any building only has a basic energy saving strategy in place or none it all, it’s important to create one as soon as possible and sticking to it, knowing that the savings garnered will pay dividends and increase comfort levels.