Title
Building Automation Systems Update
Description
This report provides information to the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning (TIP) Subcommittee about Building Automation Systems (BAS) and their usage within the operations of City of Phoenix facilities.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
Building automation systems are networks of computer controlled electronic devices designed to monitor and optimize various building operations, such as lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, security, and fire safety. The integration to these building systems is intended to reduce energy consumption, provide safer buildings, and give staff the ability to monitor multiple processes through a single graphical interface.
Building automation system structure utilizes software and databases installed on servers and operator workstations that communicate with hardware devices distributed throughout facilities. The hardware devices create a network of information that is received and then processed to send control signals back to control devices in a repeating loop that creates ongoing efficiency.
Building automation systems offer numerous benefits for energy management in commercial buildings. Some of these benefits include:
1. Energy Savings: Building automation systems are designed to optimize the performance of building systems to minimize energy consumption. They achieve this by monitoring and adjusting the building's systems based on occupancy, weather conditions, and other factors. BAS can save up to 30% on energy costs by optimizing the building's systems.
2. Improved Comfort: Building automation systems can improve the comfort of occupants by maintaining optimal temperature, lighting, and air quality. They achieve this by adjusting the building's systems to suit the needs of the occupants.
3. Improved Indoor Air Quality: Building automation systems can improve indoor air quality by monitoring and adjusting the building's heating, ventilation and cooling systems to maintain the appropriate temperature, humidity, and ventilation rates. This can reduce the risk of health problems related to poor indoor air quality. The system can also be used to maintain Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulatory requirements for indoor air quality.
4. Predictive Maintenance: Building automation systems can also enable predictive maintenance by monitoring the performance of building systems and predicting when maintenance is required. This can help to prevent costly breakdowns and prolong the life of building systems.
By optimizing the performance of building systems, BAS can help building owners and managers reduce energy consumption and costs while creating a comfortable and healthy environment for occupants. As technology advances, building automation systems will continue to become more advanced, offering even greater benefits for energy management in commercial buildings.
The City of Phoenix currently has approximately 70 facilities and campuses utilizing various manufacturers of building automation with an age span of 0 to over 20 years of service. The lifespan of building automation systems ranges from 7-15 years and is dependent on supporting technologies such as chip/component manufacturing and operating systems that provide the operator interface. As stated above, BAS technologies are critical tools to manage the energy consumption, manage building systems operations, and provide the ideal indoor temperatures for building occupants. Enterprise departments are more likely to have identified funding for the upgrade and replacement of BAS hardware and software and the Public Works Department is utilizing funding available to upgrade and replace these systems in non-enterprise departments.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Public Works Department.