Improve building energy usage with an energy survey
Energy survey scope of work
Airflows and pressures of the system: Allows us to demonstrate the accurate performance of the existing system and provide base data for all energy calculations.
Running currents of fan motors: Allows us to Calculate accurate motor energy usage, as well as specific fan powers (SFP).
Calculation of specific fan powers from above. If the system has variable duty this becomes complex and requires a much greater level of information with multiple datum points taken.
Temperatures: Airflow temperature readings allow us to calculate efficiency and effectiveness of heating, cooling and heat recovery components.
Gather manufacturers data from components: Original system design data can be compared with actual performance data to highlight any changes in duty and performance. Can also reduce the time required for a survey if provided beforehand.
Energy logging and control strategy: Allows to set the parameters to input the individual performance readings against. Energy savings can be calculated based on elongated usage, rather than based on “snapshot” readings.
Heat recovery: Provides an understanding of any existing heat recovery system, and highlights opportunities for improvements or introduction of new heat recovery solutions.
Operational integration: Information on how the system operates and highlights opportunities for potential improvements.
Staff and operator discussions: Provide background insights into the system performance. Address performance concerns with the staff operators and users, so the solution covers everyone’s needs. Misalignment in operational understanding will reduce overall system performance and potentially increase operational costs.
Air handling unit survey
Outside air intake: Adequate fresh air, no local contamination.
Filtration
Free flow of fresh air, no additional pressure restricting airflow, and or increase energy consumption.
HREC/Mixing dampers: Maximising energy recovery, whilst maintaining critical temperature parameters. Correct operational sequences maintain critical conditions. Free from blockages, leakages or standing water.
HREC device
Maximising energy recovery, whilst maintaining critical temperature and humidity parameter. Correct operational sequences maintain critical conditions.
Fans
Achieving air volume duty at optimal efficiency. Any maintenance constraints, reducing efficiency and operational effectiveness. Air volume speed control/control sequencing to maintain critical parameters. Optimised face area to achieve efficiency requirements, any drift will reduce heating effectiveness and increase operational costs.
Heating coil
Optimised face area to achieve efficiency requirements, any drift will reduce heating effectiveness and increase operational costs. Sensor and control sequences to maintain critical parameters.
Interfacing with HREC and Boiler controls, correct sequencing will prevent boiler operation without the AHU heating demand required.
Case structure
Sound structure to ensure optimal airflow, temperature and humidity control; any leakage will impact the AHU to meet critical conditions or will be over ventilating to overcome loses.
Controls, ductwork, electrical, boiler survey
Control panel
Improvement component protection, remove any maintenance/failures concerns. Sensors are correctly poisoned and calibrated to maintain critical parameters at the lowest operational costs. Optimised sequences to maximise free energy, whilst maintaining critical parameters. Data capture and visualisation enables data-driven decisions.
Building management systems
Simple systems integration and operational understanding enable effective system management. Effective ‘systems’ integration and sequencing to maximise building performance; Boilers, HVAC, Lighting, Access, etc.
Ductwork
Eliminating any over/under design pressures to ensure correct volume. Containing duct temperate to maximise HREC and any transitions losses. Ensuring all areas are getting adequate ventilation rates through the system, avoiding cold/hot spots and drift from outside parameter requirements.
Boiler
Boiler and AHU compatible design to ensure efficiency. Any drift from coil temperature design will impact efficiency and operating costs. Boiler and AHU coil interlocked to ensure Boiler demand in synchronised with AHU demand. If condensing boiler; return water supply to have adequate temperature differential to enable condensing efficiency. Containing water temperate to maximise wet system efficiency and minimise any transitions losses.
Electrical
To ensure any minor works complies with NICEIC Electrical Minors Works, and ensures the assets are up to date for the purposes of the maintenance teams. To ensure the suitability of power for any potential unit upgrade.