Building Automation System(BAS) as a tool of Energy Management system(EMS)

BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEM(BAS) AS A TOOL OF ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM(EMS)

People spend about 90 percent of their lives indoors and the buildings where we spend our lives, have a massive impact on it.

There remains widespread confusion around how EMS can best be leveraged to minimize energy use and maximize cost savings. As a result, many building professionals are missing out on opportunities to diminish their energy footprints.

The nucleus of this issue revolves around the fact that these professionals too often use the terms EMS and BMS/BAS interchangeably when they are fundamentally different.

In the 1970s and ‘80s—due to increased energy prices—the demand for a more cost-effective building sent the BAS industry into a whirl of development to make buildings smarter. Taglines like “smart building solutions” started dotting the competitive landscape as building-automation companies were able to leverage cheapening computer technologies and bring them into the building space. This period was a golden age for the BAS industry. During this peak demand to reduce consumption, BAS manufacturers globally created new and relevant technologies related to controlling a building. Competition increased, and the direct digital-control solution became the standard expectation in buildings everywhere. However, most systems were disparate and only designed to control specific operations of a building, with other vital components not being visible or integrated through the controlling mechanisms.

BAS can save a business between 5% and 30% on utility costs by managing HVAC and lighting systems. HVAC and lighting are the two largest users of energy in modern buildings and are usually the first systems to be automated. Wireless BAS systems can monitor every zone of the building and make instant adjustments to maintain comfort while lowering energy usage. Lighting can be reduced remotely in various areas of the building to save energy costs.

Digitalization means buildings are becoming more and more connected and the importance of having all building data insight is continuously increasing. Whether you wish to enhance occupant comfort and productivity or to improve operational and energy efficiency, building management systems, enable you to connect, monitor and operate your facility smoothly. 

Energy management systems and building automation systems serve two very different functions. Perhaps the easiest way to understand the difference is to think of your building as a car. An energy management system is the dashboard of your vehicle: it allows you to see all the controls and understand how all components are operating. With this high-level view, you accurately direct your car.

That’s when the building automation system comes in. BAS acts as the steering wheel: you can direct the car by telling it what to do. You can set it on “cruise” mode to drive on autopilot, but you’ll still need to run frequent, necessary checks to make sure everything is working correctly.

Your building operates the same way. A good energy management software provides an overview of your portfolio operations, with the option to explore a potential problem before it happens. You then use this information to set your building automation system to run most efficiently.

Sources: 
Internet Article by ANNA BUGLAEVA, JULY 22, 2015
Building automation - Buildings - Siemens Global Website. 
https://facilityexecutive.com/2015/12/ems-bms-or-both/

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