Schneider Electric has launched predictive optimisation to help building owners and facility managers reduce HVAC energy use up to 25 per cent, which typically equates to six to 10 per cent of total building energy use.
Predictive optimisation is part of Schneider Electric’s suite of advanced building life cycle services and can be used to improve NABERS ratings.
The optimisation software continuously monitors real-time weather forecasts, energy prices, tariffs and demand response (DR) signals, then makes small automatic changes in HVAC operations to provide tangible energy savings without affecting occupant comfort.
It works by learning and collecting building data, then using the information to automatically create a thermal model.
Proprietary algorithms calculate and respond to the best set points to optimise comfort and energy utilisation. Once the initial model is set, predictive optimisation continues to adapt to changes to uncover new opportunities for energy savings.
The system also diagnoses and prioritises the most critical building management issues to help facility managers quickly identify and remediate problems that are generating the largest amount of energy waste.
It remotely uses data from an existing building management system (BMS) or power monitoring system to self-optimise 24 hours a day across the building enterprise.
Schneider’s national service manager of buildings, Peter Morris, says new technologies employed by predictive optimisation allow much of the time-consuming operational and optimisation work in buildings to be done remotely and automatically, while still under the purview of expert engineers.
“Now building owners and managers, who are under increasing pressure to lower operating expenses, may maximise facility outcomes without capital expenditure while minimising additional staff and training needs,” Morris says.
“Performance objectives are met while enabling facilities teams to focus on other critical issues.”
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