Achieve Successful Outcomes over the Building Lifecycle with Automation
Whether it’s reducing energy use, simplifying facility management, meeting regulations, or achieving other goals, the success of these outcomes can often determine the overall success of a building. However, many building systems are designed and updated using a siloed approach that addresses just one stage of a building’s lifecycle or area of operations, which can limit progress and overlook valuable opportunities.
In comparison, a lifecycle approach to smart buildings considers every stage of a building’s life to maximize the performance of building systems and make buildings smarter, more comfortable, more energy-efficient, and easier to operate. By considering the entire lifecycle of a building when designing or retrofitting building systems, building owners and facility managers can capitalize on the most lucrative opportunities and achieve better outcomes at every stage.
A modern building automation system (BAS) can make this lifecycle approach possible. An intelligent BAS connects commercial HVAC, lighting, security, and protection systems and allows them to communicate on a single platform. Through BAS technology, facility teams can monitor assets in real time, automate processes, and use data and analytics to make decisions that enhance building efficiency, occupant comfort, safety, and more.
It’s helpful to imagine a lifecycle approach as a continuous circle in which building technology is continually monitoring building systems and is constantly refreshed with new functionality. Although all hardware and devices may not last the entire life of the building, dynamic BAS software is the power that will keep technology relevant for a building’s needs and an owner’s goals as the building ages, from engineering and commissioning to operation, maintenance, and updates.
Moving Toward Zero Engineering
Today, the typical BAS requires specialized expertise to install, program, and commission. However, as the skilled labor shortage continues, service providers are leveraging the lifecycle approach to design plug-and-play BAS technologies and factory-connected assets and drive the industry closer to a concept of “zero” engineering.
The purpose of zero engineering is to reduce the complexity around BAS tools and leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to make the process simpler and more efficient. For instance, AI could be leveraged to automatically create application logic from the defined control sequences to enable a no code/low code approach rather than the engineer manually creating logic. This allows the engineer to focus on other value-add activities.
One way to reduce engineering is to use standardized control sequences that optimize the performance and energy consumption of a building automation system rather than customized ones. Customized control sequences can be time-consuming and expensive—and they may not deliver the intended results. For instance, it’s becoming an industry standard to equip a BAS with control sequences according to ASHRAE Guideline 36, High-Performance Sequences of Operation for HVAC Systems (G36). G36 includes proven control sequences developed by industry leaders to help maximize HVAC system energy efficiency and performance. In operation, these sequences can help provide control stability and allow for real-time fault detection and diagnostics.
With zero-engineering BAS technologies and factory-connected, plug-and-play assets, contractors and technicians don’t need to spend a lot of time learning the programming of a BAS or equipment to get them up and running. Instead, they can use their time to focus on value-added services rather than simply installing the system and maximize an organization’s capital expenditure (CAPEX) investment.
Moving Toward Zero, Continuous Commissioning
Once a BAS has been installed and programmed, it’s then deployed and commissioned. Today, this process requires specialized, on-site personnel, such as a dedicated commissioning agent. This specialist makes sure all the wiring aligns from both a control and electrical engineering perspective and everything is operating as designed. The success of this process—and the operational outcomes that follow—depend on the knowledge of the on-site specialist.
As the industry moves toward zero engineering, it is also beginning to move toward zero, continuous commissioning. In a traditional approach, a commissioning agent must go on site and validate a system all at once. Through a lifecycle, connected controls approach, engineers and technicians can remotely and continuously commission building automation systems phase by phase.
This iterative approach reduces the engineering effort and necessity of specialized, on-site labor while also minimizing human error and optimizing CAPEX. The first step toward zero commissioning is a combination of local service and remote expertise. Leading service providers that use a lifecycle approach now have dedicated BAS experts to remotely support local technicians while leveraging software to diagnose issues and faults and improve the effectiveness of the local technician.
A technician can contact this team of BAS experts who can connect to the system and guide them. Some service providers even have workflow tools that offer technicians in the field a clear, standard process. This level of support and connected workflow can help ensure that technicians of all skill levels clearly understand what is needed to program and commission the system and help ensure systems are installed and ready for use on time and within budget. This combination of local technicians and remote expertise is also the first step toward zero commissioning.
Moving Toward Autonomous Operations
After a BAS has been commissioned and is integrated with smart building equipment and systems, it’s put into the hands of the facility team for day-to-day operation and monitoring through connected controls. The connected controls of a building’s smart assets make it possible for them to be remotely monitored and managed. Teams can access data, perform analytics, receive remote diagnostics, and leverage AI and machine learning to automate adjustments. This visibility and control can help extract more value from HVAC equipment, fire systems, security systems, and more by optimizing use.
In turn, all of this can optimize building performance, maximize operational expenditures (OPEX) and help achieve positive outcomes, including:
- Saving energy and reaching decarbonization goals
- Accelerating return on investment (ROI)
- Improving occupant comfort, wellbeing, and productivity
- Strengthening cybersecurity
- Maintaining regulatory compliance
- Maximizing system performance
- Simplifying building management
- Advancing operational efficiency and enhancing reliability
However, one of the biggest challenges faced by facility teams is understanding how to use system capabilities and features to deliver these outcomes. In fact, many facility teams use only a fraction of what their BAS can do and may not have local expertise to expand its use. A lifecycle approach allows facility teams to leverage these software tools to more fully utilize and maximize the value of their BAS.
The same, dedicated BAS experts that support programming and commissioning can also support facility teams and local technicians with ongoing system operation. These experts can remotely connect to a building’s BAS and view analytics to assess the current state in relation to outcomes. Then, they can prioritize what opportunities are available to align with an organization’s goals, make adjustments remotely, and, if on-site support is needed, provide clear instructions to local technicians.
This remote assessment capability can be especially helpful when it comes to maintenance. In the current service model, when there is an issue, a technician gets dispatched to the site and must determine what is needed. This trial-and-error troubleshooting can waste a lot of time and require multiple visits, potentially extending downtime and affecting building performance, efficiency, and comfort.
In comparison, a lifecycle approach can leverage a building system’s data and digital capabilities and leverage remote BAS experts to streamline the process of diagnosing. Depending on the issue, it’s possible the remote experts can address it immediately. If a local technician is required, then they know what the issue is before they arrive, can order parts if needed, and may be able to complete work in one visit. This can help the technician to be more efficient, which can reduce costs, maximize the value of the visit, and help achieve the desired building outcomes.
In addition, if the BAS software platform uses AI-ML, it’s possible for it to develop a certain degree of self-healing, automatically making adjustments that bring systems and devices back into alignment with expected outcomes. This level of operation and maintenance combining local field service, remote expert support and software and analytics is a foundational step toward a fully autonomous, self-healing BAS.
Moving Toward Future-Proof Systems
The life of a software application can extend far beyond that of the hardware on which it’s deployed. That’s why, at its core, a future-proof BAS is one in which the software application lifecycle is decoupled from the hardware lifecycle. This can allow the software to continuously upgrade over time without changing the hardware and, when the hardware approaches the end of life, it only takes a few clicks to move the software to a new hardware platform with minimized system downtime.
For BAS technologies, decoupling the software lifecycle from that of the hardware in this way can greatly reduce the cost for building owners and facility managers and allows the system to seamlessly upgrade, expand, and evolve.
There are dynamic BAS technologies and connected assets that are leading the way, with software applications that upgrade within a few clicks. Following the concept of continuous commissioning, some BAS software platforms use a continuous release model to introduce new functionality to the system.
Compared to periodic releases, a continual release model lets operators access new capabilities and features as they’re developed. It also gives organizations more control over system functionality, since they can choose which updates and features to implement. By accessing the latest functionality sooner—and without having to replace hardware—facility teams can be better equipped to respond to new and emerging challenges and achieve their goals.
When new equipment or hardware is needed, access to data and analytics gives organizations the opportunity to prioritize where to place capital, develop an incremental plan, and gradually invest over time instead of making one big update every couple of decades.
Moving Toward a Smarter Future, Together
A lifecycle approach to smart buildings can help building owners and facility managers get the most out of their BAS, optimize business value, and achieve better outcomes for the long term. Because it is dynamic, a lifecycle approach can also help organizations better respond to emerging trends or challenges and remain competitive.
To implement a lifecycle approach, it’s important to partner with a building technology supplier with a complete ecosystem of connected technologies, expertise, and services that deliver results across every stage of a building’s life.
With a powerful combination of technology, software and data analytics running alongside remote support and the expertise of local specialists, building teams are well positioned to unlock the full potential of their facility and reach a smarter, healthier, and more sustainable future.
