BEMS innovations for London Fire Brigade project save costs
Outside-the-box thinking by Powell Systems delivers fresh approaches to energy efficiency
By working with Powell Systems, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) achieved major cost savings while updating their existing Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS). Together with the LFB, we developed fresh approaches to time-tested solutions, specifically tailored to address the issues they were experiencing. The added benefit of this approach was that they could defer capital spending on their BEMS infrastructure, for significant reductions in cost.
Emerging challenges for London Fire Brigade’s BEMS
As the fire and rescue service for all of London, the London Fire Brigade operates some 100 facilities spread throughout the city. Of these, nine of the more recent fire stations were planned in the early 2000’s with actual construction completed in 2015. Their original systems were designed for a 25-year economic life but after just 7 years, the LFB started experiencing cost and energy-use issues. They then called Powell Systems to take on the task of getting the Building Energy Management Systems of these nine stations back on track.
Innovative energy solutions by Powell Systems
Powell recognised that the heating, air conditioning and lighting were configured with the systems and components available in 2015. But since then, technology had advanced by leaps and bounds – the fire stations were now experiencing the same obsolescence dilemma as everyone else.
As an example, just two years after their incandescent fixtures were put in, low-energy LED lighting became cheaper and widely available. For better energy use and less carbon emissions, Powell proposed changes in lighting these stations. Light fixtures were shifted to LED technology. The number of fixtures in certain areas were also reduced, as it was determined that too much lighting was being used in daytime. We further suggested adding a solar component to the proposed LED configuration for even more reductions in energy consumption.
We also saw that a rewrite of the BEMS strategy of these fire stations was needed.
Smarter BEMS programming for energy efficiency
Powell recognised that it was not only the equipment that needed some changes. The stations were burning lots of gas, using lots of electricity. We determined that the main driver was the building layouts themselves, which were originally designed to handle a busier level of utilisation, and with internal facilities built to match.
Our approach to this was through smarter BEMS programming. Like lighting, the software technology powering the Building Energy Management System had also advanced tremendously since 2015. This now gave us more options than just programming by set times. With our modifications, it became possible for the LFB to have finer BEMS control of the equipment in these nine stations. These were based on actual demand, not on intervals previously pre-set by a programmer.
Powell’s fresh approach to developing energy use strategies
On top of these improvements in components and programming, the added longer-term effect is that equipment is not being worked as hard. This extends the service life of the components such that capital expenditure for replacements can be deferred further into the future.
At Powell Systems, we not only understand how the BEMS box works, but we also understand the dynamics of how buildings operate. Over the years we have built up the skill sets needed to look at an existing system strategy, look at the equipment, and say: this can actually be run better in another way.
For Powell as a BEMS company and the London Fire Brigade, our collaboration is just the first step in a journey of continuous improvement in energy savings and emissions reduction.
To learn more about how Powell can work with you to help your business, check out our bespoke BEMS services or get in touch with us today.