Artificial intelligence may be able to run and manage HVAC systems better than you can

If you are a commercial building owner or operator, then you have most likely invested in a building automation system (BAS) or building energy management system (BEMS). Buildings are ripe targets for efficiency improvements, and efficiency optimization can lead to significant cost savings.

In fact, commercial buildings produce about one-fifth of all carbon emissions, with HVAC systems accounting for 40% of building energy use, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

With the advent of advanced computing hardware and analytics, building owners can leverage artificial intelligence to optimize HVAC operations. By bringing autonomous AI into the built environment, existing HVAC systems will become a predictive brain that learns precisely how to use less energy to optimize comfort in all areas.

AI-based BAS and BEMS solutions have been adopted globally. For example, ABB Ability BE Sustainable with Efficiency AI currently manages more than 275 buildings totaling more than 100 million square feet. Collectively, these installations will save more than 1 million tonnes of CO 2 per year, all by leveraging investments already made in building automation.

The huge potential of artificial intelligence applications

While older buildings have greater upside potential in terms of savings, modern buildings have more technology that allows for more granular control. Therefore, applying artificial intelligence to any building may yield results. The potential is huge: according to ABB partner Brainbox AI, energy costs can be reduced by up to 25%, carbon footprints can be reduced by up to 40%, and asset life can be extended by up to 50%. For new buildings, smart HVAC also provides a way to meet energy-related code requirements.

The goal is to make the HVAC system self-correcting rather than predictive while retaining all existing BAS and BEMS functionality. For example, virtual metering allows building operators to track energy usage at the device level—without the need for physical hardware—by capturing data elements from BEMS such as humidity levels, supply and return air speeds and temperatures, and current thermostat temperatures and set points. .

Coupled with the ability to overlay external data (such as weather forecasts), there is enough data for AI to not only manage HVAC performance, but also alert operators when anomalies occur and before potential failures occur. question.

Continuous learning means the AI ​​can adjust the digital model in real time, such as after a new window is installed. The building is always "understood" in its current form and can be optimized accordingly. So, a capability that didn't exist just a few years ago, today's AI solutions can predict the temperature of an HVAC zone two hours in advance with up to 98% accuracy. As it learns about the HVAC system and its operation, the system self-heals; that is, it can resolve problems without human intervention.

First Steps in Integrating Artificial Intelligence

To begin using AI in a building, a building owner will typically hire a systems integrator to survey existing building systems and assets. Are there HVAC drawings? Are BEMS present? How occupied is the building in terms of number of people and duration at a specific location? These questions and others will allow providers to evaluate whether an AI solution will work for an owner’s building.

From a technology perspective, all building owners need networked HVAC controls using open protocols. The AI ​​will then begin recommending changes to HVAC operations, first testing them in a virtual environment before deploying them to the live system. Vendors typically monitor the progress of the AI ​​and perform sanity checks on proposed changes to HVAC operating algorithms. AI will find ways to optimize HVAC assets based on how the building is used and how usage changes over time. These tools also provide data for KPI reporting and supplier experts to notify potential issues. Depending on the size of the building, owners can expect AI-enhanced HVAC controls to generate a return on investment (ROI) within two to four months after the system learns about the building and its HVAC systems.

Sophisticated AI-based HVAC controls are now available to virtually any commercial building over 5,000 square feet, made possible by the proliferation of analytical tools made possible by computational advances and applications tailored to the needs of commercial buildings. We are still in the early stages of the application of artificial intelligence in the built environment, but with compelling business cases in terms of ROI and emissions reductions, these solutions may become commonplace in new builds and retrofits.

Nowadays, green environmental protection has become one of the development goals of the current construction industry. The 23rd China International Building Intelligence Summit in 2022, hosted by Qianjia.com, will officially kick off in the near future. The theme of this summit is "Digital intelligence empowers, carbon leads a new future", among which how to create lower-carbon, more environmentally friendly smart buildings will become one of the main topics discussed at this summit.

The summit will be held grandly in the five major cities of Xi'an, Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou from November 8 to December 8, 2022. At that time, we will join hands with world-renowned building intelligence brands and experts to share hot topics and the latest technology applications such as AI, cloud computing, big data, IoT, smart cities, smart homes, and smart security, and discuss how to create a "lower carbon, A safer, more stable and more open industry ecology will help achieve the "double carbon" goal.

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