Top Ways Environmental Control Systems Save Energy
Installing environmental control systems (ECS) in your commercial buildings makes tenants comfortable by maintaining the temperature and ventilation. These systems can also improve building efficiency, reduce your carbon footprint and lower your energy costs. Here’s how your environmental control system can save you money while making your building more sustainable.
What Are Environmental Control Systems in Buildings?
An environmental control system is a digital platform that monitors and controls your building’s atmosphere. You may use a single system or a series of interconnected monitors and controls that maintain temperature, HVAC systems, lighting, security, and water.
Your building management system (BMS) serves as the centralized hub where you can manage collected data. To make it work, a system of sensors powered by Internet of Things (IoT) technology collects data on each system and transmits it to the BMS. Your BMS or building automation system (BAS) adjusts each system based on the data.
For example, in an office building, you can program your BAS to adjust the temperature in a meeting room at a set time before scheduled meetings. Meeting attendees don’t have to wait for the room to heat up or cool off, and you don’t have to keep the heat or a/c on all day in an unused space.
Key Components of Integrated Systems
A comfortable environment in commercial buildings hinges on multiple systems working together.
HVAC
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is vital because it controls the temperature and the indoor air quality. Without this system, your rooms quickly become stuffy and stale, which hinders productivity. Imagine trying to work all day in an attic with no air conditioning or ventilation.
Environmental control systems adjust temperature and ventilation automatically based on occupancy, temperature, and indoor air quality using sensors and smart thermostats.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Monitoring
IAQ monitors measure particulates and pollutants in your building. When pollutants build up indoors, your tenants can experience respiratory issues, allergies, headaches, and other health difficulties.
All building certifications, such as LEED or Fitwel, set indoor IAQ standards. Even if you’re not aiming for a specific certification, offering IAQ monitoring in a building helps you attract tenants. People prefer living and working in buildings with good IAQ, and having a monitoring system proves that you care about their comfort.
Environmental control systems measure IAQ and increase ventilation when pollutants reach unsafe levels. These systems are key to achieving healthy building IAQ goals.
Energy and Water Management
Sustainable buildings limit energy consumption and water usage to reduce waste. If you’re operating a sustainable building, your environmental control system should monitor and control energy and water use.
These systems also help you optimize water treatment and distribution practices, such as using recycled or grey water for irrigation and other non-potable uses. Monitoring your water consumption also lets you detect and fix leaks before you waste hundreds of gallons of water.
Environmental control systems help minimize your energy consumption by regulating lighting and temperature based on occupancy and other factors. For example, instead of running the air conditioner at full blast all day, your ECS can kick it up when the building is full of people. You don’t waste energy cooling empty or nearly empty rooms.
Asset Health and Predictive Maintenance
The data collected by ECS also gives you valuable insights into your buildings’ assets. For example, if you notice an uptick in indoor air pollutants and don’t see the number going down, you would check your smart building HVAC technology system to make sure it’s working.
Similarly, an increase in water usage could signal potential leaks in plumbing systems.
Benefits of Implementing Environmental Control Systems
Using an ECS or a grow environmental control system in a greenhouse or other grow room offers substantial benefits to your occupants. Your tenants spend much of their time inside. ECS keeps them comfortable and lets them focus on their job, their errands, or their daily lives.
As a commercial building owner, you can attract tenants by using ECS to create a pleasant environment. Your tenants benefit from great air quality and a comfortable temperature, and you save money on energy and other utility costs. ECS systems also help you implement green building techniques and qualify for certifications.
Real-World Applications of Environmental Control Systems
Property owners and managers in commercial real estate, multi-family homes, and schools use ECS to make their buildings comfortable. This helps them attract tenants in energy-efficient buildings.
Industries such as pharmaceuticals and aerospace use ECS to maintain temperature and humidity levels in labs and manufacturing facilities. These industries often work with chemicals and other components that are highly sensitive to temperature and humidity fluctuations. An ECS keeps employees in these industries safe by managing conditions in the facility.
Attune: Choosing the Right Environmental Control System for Your Building
The right environmental control system for you will collect and report data on all your building’s systems. Attune offers a unified platform for IAQ, energy, water, and asset monitoring.
Our plug-and-play solution is easy to set up. Simply place sensors where you need them, and we will walk you through system setup. You don’t need coding or IT experience. Our system goes beyond data collection. It lets you continually optimize your ECS for enhanced energy efficiency and optimal building comfort. We offer lifetime support and customization for each building.
Our solution is a retrofit method for sustainable buildings, because you don’t need to add a lot of new IT infrastructure.
Schedule a demo today and learn more about how we can help you automate your critical building systems including energy and water and IAQ.
