BMS Optimization: The Low-Hanging Fruit of Efficiency

In most commercial buildings, the Building Management System (BMS) is the most underutilized asset. It is often set up during the building's commissioning and then ignored for years, leading to "control drift" that can waste up to 12% of a building's energy spend.

What is Control Drift?

Control drift occurs when manual overrides, sensor inaccuracies, and outdated schedules accumulate over time. A common example is "fighting" systems, where the heating is trying to reach 21°C while the cooling is trying to reach 20°C simultaneously.

The Optimization Protocol

1. Dead-band Recalibration

We implement a "dead-band"—a range of temperatures where neither heating nor cooling is active (e.g., between 19°C and 23°C). This simple software change can reduce HVAC energy use by 10% overnight.

2. Sensor Validation

A single faulty CO2 or temperature sensor can cause a ventilation fan to run at 100% speed 24/7. We perform a physical and digital audit of all critical sensors to ensure the BMS is making decisions based on accurate data.

3. Demand-Controlled Ventilation (DCV)

Instead of running fans on a fixed schedule, DCV uses CO2 sensors to adjust fan speeds based on actual occupancy. This is particularly effective in meeting rooms, gyms, and auditoriums.

Match Energy's BMS specialists can often identify enough "zero-CAPEX" savings through software optimization to pay for our entire consultancy fee within months.