Building Automation Systems
Guest Blogger: Russell Horne, City of Kingston
What is a building automation system?
A Building Automation System or BAS is the automatic and centralized control of a building's heating, cooling, ventilation (HVAC), and lighting. It may also include control over security, door access, fire alarms, and elevators. Essentially, it’s a computer that runs all of the important systems within a building, so you don’t have to.
What is control?
Let’s get techy for a minute! Control is a command to perform an action. There are two types of control including open loop and closed loop. Open loop control has no feedback; you turn your thermostat up, but have no way of telling if the furnace turned on. Closed loop control has feedback; you turn your smart thermostat up and it tells you the furnace has turned on, or needs service. Closed loop is the ideal situation, since we know how things are working.
Why is BAS important?
It is very hard to reduce energy consumption without being able to track and control energy use. A BAS gives us exactly that - a way to monitor and control a connected system to achieve a set goal. In hotels a BAS enables every room to have individually controlled heating and cooling. In a computer server room it is imperative that the temperature is controlled at all times. Automation systems or control systems have been in use for decades in both commercial and industrial sectors. This technology has changed rapidly since the early 2000’s, through smaller computer chips and technological advancements, becoming faster, less expensive, and easily integrated into everything.
Today, almost all new buildings have some sort of BAS in place, and the systems are so seamless that no one even knows they are there. A properly managed BAS can reduce buildings' annual energy consumption up to 15 per cent! A BAS connects multiple systems to work together for the purpose determined by the user. Every building has different requirements, and a BAS can help meet those needs.
Energy and the environment
In terms of energy consumption and Greenhouse Gas emissions, commercial and institutional buildings in Ontario account for 41 per cent of the province's energy use. This emphasizes how BAS is critical moving forward in order to control the energy consumption in various buildings. New buildings are becoming more complicated and connected every day. Advanced BAS is crucial to ensure they are not only efficient, but also comfortable and safe.
How can I use BAS at home?
In the past few years, commercial BAS technology has been introduced to residential homes in the form of smart or programmable thermostats. As a homeowner, you may be aware of some of the ways your home uses energy. If you are environmentally conscious, or trying to find ways to reduce your heating and cooling costs, you may be considering a smart or programmable thermostat. How do these help? Well in principle, you have a BAS system (your thermostat) and you tell it when you are home or away, awake or asleep. The Thermostat will then control your HVAC system to operate as efficiently as possible, while keeping you comfortable while you are at home. The really smart thermostats have a ton of tech built into them, and can actually begin to learn your habits and make adjustments on their own (Skynet anyone?).
What does the future look like?
The future is here! Tech companies have come out with many other smart devices like lights, power bars, door locks, and security systems. Having all of these different devices connected to a central system empowers you to reduce your energy use, reduce your carbon footprint, and make life easier.
Imagine this: the lights on your porch turn on when your phone is detected in the driveway, lighting up your walk to the front door. Your front door lock disengages, letting you in your home, groceries in both hands. You walk in and say “lights on in the kitchen”, put your groceries down, and take your shoes off in a house already at a comfortable temperature. This could be the future of smart technology that lets you control your energy, carbon footprint, and day to day activities.
I can already do all of this, why do I need “Smart” Devices?
Absolutely, you can do all of these things manually. You can turn your furnace down every night, and back up every morning, but we are human and humans are not perfect. These technologies aim to make it easy for you to reduce your carbon footprint, while providing you with more control and autonomy.
For any questions on how to make your home more efficient, please contact your local utility company for incentives and information.