Just as a computer or phone needs a software update or a car needs a service, building systems and equipment need maintenance to continually perform to a high standard.
To assure the longevity of a building system’s lifecycle, the most effective solution, which isn’t as common as it should be, is to implement a fine-tuning strategy.
Fine-tuning involves monitoring and refining the building’s equipment to ensure maximum energy efficiency, prolonged life and the continual comfort of the building’s occupants. The process is not considered essential but is highly recommended for the life of the building and to maintain a competitive edge.
The process is assisted with an advanced Building Management System (BMS) and Energy Monitoring System (EMS) that provide imperative data on the building equipment, organised into silos for engineers and sustainability advisors to analyse and identify faulty equipment or equipment using excessive amounts of energy.
When Should Fine-Tuning Take Place?
Once the commissioning and handover of a new building is completed, sometimes the building systems and equipment run in certain ways that require attention. However, these behaviours cannot be attended to during the handover because buildings without occupants don’t produce measurable data.
To ensure the optimisation of building systems, engineers need to analyse how the equipment is running with loads and seasons with full occupancy for greater interpretation of performance. Once this initial ‘tuning’ of the building’s equipment is completed, contractors and project engineers analyse equipment data through the BMS and EMS once a month to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently.
Four Main Advantages of Fine-Tuning:
1. Massive Savings on Energy Costs
Through constant tuning, building managers are ensuring full system optimisation. Fine-tuning allows management and operators to identify any underperforming or overproducing equipment, reducing any unnecessary energy consumption. The savings obtained through
fine-tuning differ from building to building.
2. Lower Maintenance Costs
Fine-tuning prolongs the lifespan of a building’s equipment, identifying any faults or failures so a fast solution can be implemented to fix it before it becomes too costly or needs to be replaced entirely.
3. Increased Occupant Comfort
To save on energy, the targets that are set during commissioning might not accommodate the comfort of the building’s inhabitants. Fine-tuning allows building operators to identify data and correct temperature set points to ensure HVAC units are running at a constant comfortable level whilst keeping energy levels low.
4. Improved Publicity
In today’s climate, a higher energy star rating is becoming increasingly desirable for building owners to obtain in order to demonstrate a commitment to reaching net zero. Harnessing energy savings through constant fine-tuning throughout the system’s lifecycle can result in a higher energy rating from equipment running at optimal efficiency.
How Leading Edge Automation Can Help
Achieve your energy-saving targets through our customised fine-tuning solutions that ensure the best performance from your building and its equipment. We have implemented a number of fine-tuning projects across the world, from the UK, Singapore and all over Australia. Get in touch with us today to see how we can improve your building and lower your operating costs.