Financial & Office Sector Case Studies

In 2012, this business faced mounting energy costs. Instead of large investments, they focused on optimising existing resources through the building automation system which included:

• Demand led strategies

• Heat harvesting techniques

• Utilisation of free fresh air

• Re-configuring time schedules

  “Annual energy costs were mounting, and it was agreed to investigate the options to halt the increase and ideally reverse it, to both save money and to reduce environmental impact. Work was undertaken to evaluate options and costs and, once the project work began, improvements of energy utilised and also to the comfort of the building users was quickly realised“

As a consequence of these measures there was an 11% reduction in electrical usage and 30% reduction in gas usage, amounting to a reduction of c. 250,000 kWh p.a. This financial company’s commitment to energy reduction remains unwavering as does our support to them

“Thank you for all your hard work contributing to Earth Hour planning at this site, by ensuring the system is fully utilised and providing the building operator the tools, knowledge & systems to properly manage the building most effectively, you allow us play our part in the world's largest grassroots movement for the environment”

Proactive approach to managing changing specifications within project phases

This was a REFIT project across multiple floors in London that was carried out within two separate phases.

Phase 1 scope specification involved the installation of FCUs and in particular VAVs, utilising the manufacturer’s controllers. SSE identified that this presented an incompatibility issue for Phase 2 specifically with the valve actuators within the specified chilled beams. This would have resulted in the chilled beams being unable to connect to the head end for control and monitoring.

Our proactive approach was to provide a technical solution to resolve this issue whilst also highlighting the operational benefits for revisiting this requirement. We gained agreement with the customer to align phase 1 controllers with phase 2 utilising Trend IQ5 controllers.

The project involved seamlessly managing various interfaces such as the appointed mechanical contractor, consultant and our customer, the building contractor. The project was also delivered out of financial office working hours to avoid any form of operational disruption.

This project has successfully met the overall strategy which was to create a ‘state of the art building’ and has provided the optimum comfort environment for the company and their staff whilst enhancing productivity. This was a REFIT project across multiple floors in London that was carried out within two separate phases.

Phase 1 scope specification involved the installation of FCUs and in particular VAVs, utilising the manufacturer’s controllers. SSE identified that this presented an incompatibility issue for Phase 2 specifically with the valve actuators within the specified chilled beams. This would have resulted in the chilled beams being unable to connect to the head end for control and monitoring.

Our proactive approach was to provide a technical solution to resolve this issue whilst also highlighting the operational benefits for revisiting this requirement. We gained agreement with the customer to align phase 1 controllers with phase 2 utilising Trend IQ5 controllers.

The project involved seamlessly managing various interfaces such as the appointed mechanical contractor, consultant and our customer, the building contractor. The project was also delivered out of financial office working hours to avoid any form of operational disruption.

This project has successfully met the overall strategy which was to create a ‘state of the art building’ and has provided the optimum comfort environment for the company and their staff whilst enhancing productivity.

Optimising building performance with bespoke HVAC and BMS upgrade

A major bank located at in Central London, faced operational challenges due to outdated VAVs and FCUs on the third floor. These issues were causing inconsistencies in the BEMS, leading to sporadic temperature fluctuations that negatively affected employee comfort and productivity.

Project Scope

SSE was commissioned to address these concerns by replacing the obsolete equipment and upgrading the BMS from Trend 963 to IQVision. Given the critical nature of the companies operations, it was essential to minimize any disruption during the project. Therefore, all work was meticulously planned and executed outside of regular business hours, ensuring a seamless transition with no impact on daily operations.

Added Value

To ensure long-term comfort, productivity, and energy efficiency, a structured maintenance support program has been implemented. This proactive approach not only sustains optimal working conditions for the staff but also enhances overall energy management.

“I was on site this weekend, so just wanted to say excellent work from Paul & John carrying out the installation of the VAV’s controllers as I could see access to some units was difficult”

Technical Services Manager

Design approach to optimise plant performance using BEMS control strategy

The HVAC system at head office uses VRV Fan Coil Units (FCUs) connected to water source heat pumps, with gas boilers for winter and adiabatic coolers for summer. It’s designed to be energy-efficient by recycling heat from cooling for heating purposes. The neutral water loop runs between 32°C and 38°C, while the heat pump works between 10°C and 45°C.

To make the VRV FCUs and heat pumps work efficiently, it’s important to keep the neutral water loop temperature at the right level. Ideally, this temperature should change with the seasons instead of staying fixed between two limits. However, problems have occurred due to faulty outdoor air sensors and missing sensors in the neutral water loop. These issues, along with poor operational practices like turning on entire floors of FCUs at once and running circulation pumps at full power, have caused inefficiencies and system breakdowns.

To improve the system's performance and address current issues, several corrective measures will be introduced. Below is a breakdown of these key steps:

• Fixing Temperature Reading Issues: New sensors included to avoid errors from sunlight and heat.
• Adding More Sensors: New sensors will help monitor water temperature at different stages.
• Accessing Better Data: New sensors will provide more precise and up-to-date information.
• Improved Efficiency: With better data, the system will be controlled more precisely, leading to more efficient operation of the heat pumps.
• Making Real-Time Adjustments: Additional data about heat pump usage allows the system to automatically adjust thus optimising performance further.

Implementing these solutions will improve the accuracy of temperature control within the neutral water loop, enhance the efficiency of heat pump operation, and reduce energy consumption. By enabling more precise temperature adjustments, the system can better align with heating and cooling demands, minimizing heat pump trips and optimizing performance throughout the year. Additionally, these changes will allow for energy savings through more efficient heat pump operation and reduced power consumption by the circulation pumps.