How to reduce energy costs: Office Edition
Restaurants, offices, factories, apartment complexes, hotels, and resorts weren’t the only ones struck by the energy crisis; families were, too. A tenfold increase in the cost of doing business is directly proportional to the energy consumed each year. This begs the question: How can businesses consistently reduce their energy consumption? Intelligent automation not only helps them save money on energy but also delivers many other advantages and relief.
Regardless of the industry, managers are fully aware of the enormous effects of the energy crisis on their companies. Based on the present data, it was evident that businesses needed to put plans in place to reduce their energy use quickly and permanently.
However, some people need help to save energy when running a business. More significant buildings make it more challenging to operate energy-intensive systems like lighting, ventilation, heating, audio, and speaker systems sustainably, even though the human factor is still a significant impact.
Using intelligent automation is a sophisticated cost-cutting strategy. One Miniserver is sufficient to control most technologies and functions regarding Loxone. Installing a Miniserver doesn’t significantly limit operations for an established business because it can be completed in a few days, and you can begin saving immediately
Let us look deeper into the ways and opportunities for energy conservation, focusing on specific areas.
Heating – up to 30% lower consumption
No matter the size or shape of a structure, its heating may be controlled automatically. Each room can be individually adjusted to keep it at the perfect temperature.
You can program your heating system to turn on and off at certain times each day, including on holidays and other non-working days. The heating is turned down if the building is closed.
For instance, if you plan a meeting with coworkers at work beyond business hours, the heating period can be prolonged because of the integrated presence of sensors.
Offices, residences, facilities, and restrooms all have intelligent air circulation controls that adjust the airflow based on occupancy. It is unnecessary to produce as much energy for circulation when half of the rooms in the structure are vacant. All of it is handled by intelligent automation!
The Touch Pure Flex has control options that can be customised for different types of users. For instance, to prevent the temperature from exceeding a specific limit, workers can only control it within a particular range of degrees. On the other hand, the administration or facilities managers can control the building’s heating via the mobile app.
Any building, regardless of size, may have an efficient heating system thanks to intelligent automation, making it balanced and predictable.
Your building’s open windows may also affect how long it takes to heat a room. When windows are left open for a prolonged period, the heating system will automatically switch off.
Lighting – save up to 60% of energy
The manager or administrator can control all lights centrally using a single application.
Assuming everyone is present and safe to work, the lights will turn on and off automatically based on the room’s brightness and occupancy.
Each room’s LED light brightness is automatically adjusted based on the amount of natural light present. This can reduce lighting energy use by up to 60%.
Thanks to building automation, it’s possible to automate individual rooms according to user needs: Warehouse lighting can be adjusted to a lower level while still providing adequate illumination for areas where workers are present.
Audio – up to 79 % lower consumption with an intelligent Multiroom audio system
It is possible to trigger audio even just on presence. Why, in places with less traffic, like restrooms, play music constantly?
By using intelligent control, 40% of the energy used by an audio system can be saved, even if one already exists. In the end, audio should only be played when someone is there, say 60% of the working hours.
A class D amplifier is built into the Loxone Audio server. This translates to 90% efficiency and much-reduced power usage compared to typical audio systems that use more power. With the Audioserver, your company can reduce its energy expenses by as much as 79%.
Not all situations require potent audio equipment. Space-consuming panel installation occurs in offices and other commercial structures. The Audioserver doesn’t need active cooling, another requirement that uses more energy.
Smartly integrating music with a planned work schedule is possible, just as with lighting, heating, and other systems.
Intelligent energy management & PV
Your building’s energy management is guaranteed to be sustainable and intelligent with Loxone.
Energy overflows are also eliminated via building automation.
Energy can also be used outside of business hours with systems for storing extra energy. The system is aware of this and will preheat the system if more energy is available.
The measurement and control are modified to fit the needs of the flats or rooms. The technology can determine when and to what degree the main tank needs to be heated. The system only heats to 50 degrees when it is unnecessary to reach 70 degrees, saving about 30 per cent of the energy.
Even the heat pump has yet to learn what the actual and projected consumption is. As part of an intelligent system, it may detect when it is not being used and automatically switch off. Additionally, it will hold off on improving its efficiency until the heating factor (COP) is higher.
For instance, the system will start heating at 9:30 am. It will then be able to use the electricity produced by the PV plant rather than drawing energy from the grid at 7:00.
Electric company vehicles are charged during periods of surplus. Alternatively, employees may charge their cars as a bonus when sufficient energy is available. Additionally, it is possible to track the usage of chargers and bill individual users if necessary.
Whether there are more branches or companies, they may be linked and track their energy usage centrally to produce global and personal data and assessments.
Notification of operating conditions
For example, when a restaurant’s freezer door is left open, products not only go bad, but electrical usage goes up a lot. When the freezer or refrigerator doors are left open for a prolonged time, the intelligent system can be configured to notify the manager using an app.
Finding energy leaks in the building is made possible by the system’s secondary metrics. Then, instead of waiting until your business receives a huge energy bill, they can be handled right away.
It is not necessary to turn a circuit breaker on and off directly in a building when the electrical infrastructure is clever. It is simple to forget to switch off, and it destroys equipment.
A huge bonus: Smart Access
Pro Tip: Include the access system in the automation of your building. It can facilitate work and help avoid or resolve issues.
There only has to be one code keypad at the door. Other technology, such as audio, heating, and lighting, can be put into absence mode by entering a code. If a code is needed, some people could forget to turn it off.
