A Building Management System (BMS) is a computer-based system installed in buildings to control and monitor mechanical and electrical plants, including; HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning), lighting, power systems, fire systems, and security systems.
Effective well-utilised Building Management Systems (BMS) provide the core management tool required by building managers to ensure monitoring and efficient management of energy and occupant comfort. It enables Building Managers to provide the optimal working environment while minimizing the landlords’ and tenants’ costs. Effective BMS utilization allows for optimal building performance by extending equipment and systems’ operational life by reducing loads and operating hours. Therefore, maintenance and capital costs are reduced, and less embedded energy is consumed through equipment replacement and upgrades.
A BMS will show increases in energy use due to equipment failure or adjustments to operating parameters. For example, heating valves open when the building requires cooling or whole floors of lights for extended periods due to cleaning activity.
A BMS may also indicate that air-conditioning is starting up hours before the building is fully occupied due to security staff activities. With this information in hand, the building manager may rectify such issues through consultation or engineering solutions.
A BMS is also a primary tool for identifying energy intensity improvement opportunities, for example, refining the size and number of lighting time blocks, providing meaningful reports to the Building Management Committee on issues and opportunities, and enabling identification of faults, maintenance planning, and energy-saving upgrades.
