In February 2017, Buildings Alive (in partnership with Envizi) deployed a revolutionary ‘Equipment Fault Detection’ (EFD) platform at 9 Castlereagh St, Sydney. The EFD platform continually analyses the building’s automation system, looking for faults and optimisation opportunities in energy dense HVAC equipment. By providing the FM team with greater insights into the BMS ‘black box’, a closer working relationship has been established between the FM and BMS teams, leading to energy efficiency wins and fewer tenant complaints.
Building Bio
- A-grade commercial office tower
- NLA: 20,847 m²
- 31 Floors
- Built 1989
- Sydney CBD
- Owner: Charter Hall
- FM: Knight Frank
- BMS: Johnson Controls
- Commenced Buildings Alive’s REF Service: October 2014
- Commenced EFD service: February 2017
EFD visualisations communicate issues and opportunities to FM team and contractors
A Guide to Action
Throughout June 2017, the FM team, BMS contractor and Buildings Alive have worked together, actively using the EFD platform to detect and prioritise faults and tuning opportunities on the HVAC control system, including:
- Supply air pressure setpoint optimisation
- Economy cycle control optimisation
- Chiller staging strategy
- Sensor calibration and failures
Measurement and Verification of Energy Performance
To date, the EFD platform at 9 Castlereagh Street has detected 194 issues and opportunities, and 107 of them have been systematically addressed. This has resulted in a great saving outcome.
Buildings Alive’s custom M&V tool shows that 9 Castlereagh Street achieved ~7.5% additional savings until June 2017 (as compared to the normalised baseline immediately prior to implementation – shaded area). The tracker graph shows the weather-adjusted performance during this period. The results show the added value of the new platform; improving on already solid results achieved since the start of Buildings Alive’s REF service in 2014.
