Universities studying up on building data analytics
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the nation’s higher education institutions spend $14 billion annually on energy consumption—an expense that continues to rise while their budgets shrink. Universities are expected to be at the forefront of energy sustainability, and the pressure has only intensified as new regulations require schools to improve efficiency.
All these challenges are prompting facilities managers to seek innovative solutions. According to a recent survey commissioned by Schneider Electric, more than half (56 percent) of respondents projected they would invest more in energy efficiency next year. With the right energy management strategies, universities could reduce their energy bills by 15 to 30 percent or more.
Yet, how can a facilities manager or leadership team find the money needed for improvements and know which investments deliver the best ROI? The answer can be found in building data analytics that uncover hidden savings and reveal where to invest for the highest impact.
An intelligent building infrastructure ties together formerly disparate systems, such as power, building management, security and IT. Building management systems (BMS) provide valuable insight into building performance, status of critical infrastructure and the likelihood of impact on building occupants. With graphical user interfaces and mobile applications, this data can be delivered in real time and be at the fingertips of facility managers and executives. But real savings occur when building data is analyzed and turned into action. These analytics are likely to result in significant ongoing energy and cost savings, freeing up funds to help offset improvements.
Determining which improvements to make and setting priorities can be daunting. Again, data analytics can guide the plan of action. Customized reports prioritize areas of improvement according to projected payback and required up-front costs. These reports help facilities managers allocate precious dollars wisely to those projects that can deliver maximum impact and measureable ROI, including enhanced building performance, reduced operating costs and optimized energy efficiency.
Building analytics can identify hidden cost savings and guide energy investments. Learn more about how universities can benefit from building analytics by checking out the Green Building News article Using Data Analytics to Improve Building Resources.
