Building controls: Making the right choice in energy management

When managing energy in the built environment, controls should be one of the first tools out of the tool box; hence the importance of understanding what they can do and making the right choice. The control of energy in buildings is generally poor, despite the availability of a range of tried and tested systems. Specifications are often limited to the minimum requirements; innovative technologies, such as Building Energy Management Systems and Demand Control Ventilation are rarely applied. Building controls, whether stand-alone units or full building energy management systems, are designed to provide a comfortable climate for building occupants while ensuring this is delivered with the lowest possible energy consumption. Energy can account for about 40 per cent of the running costs of a building over its lifetime. Anything that can be done to help manage this effectively is a benefit to building owners and occupants. Any decision on what to specify should be based on lifecycle costs, not short-term thinking about the initial capital cost. Controls can be applied equally successfully to a new or refurbished building.