Impact of building automation control systems on energy efficiency — University building case study

Abstract

Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS) and Technical Building Management (TBM) provide effective control and monitoring functions of heating, ventilating, cooling, hot water and lighting appliances etc., improving comfort as well as energy efficiency. The paper focuses on the evaluation of the impact of the BACS and TBM on the energy efficiency of university classroom. The BACS and TBM functions in test university classroom has been organised and implemented according to the BACS and TBM efficiency classes introduced and defined in the EN 15232 standard. The study presented in the paper puts into evidence that the building automation system with higher BACS efficiency class has improved the energy efficiency. However, in respect to the BACS efficiency factors from the EN 15232, there are discrepancies discussed by authors. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine these factors in a real infrastructure of an university building.