Energy efficiency is at the top of many companies’ agendas. Commissioning plays a crucial role here and helps ensure the optimal performance of buildings and installations. In addition to cost savings, sustainability and environmental awareness are also energy efficiency is at the top of many companies’ agendas. Commissioning plays a crucial role here and helps ensure the optimal performance of buildings and installations.
Directives from the EU
Commissioning is not a one-time undertaking, but rather an ongoing project that extends over the entire life of a building. By setting up systems more efficiently and taking measures for plant components, it is possible to recognize and address potential energy waste. This allows you to save on energy costs and contribute to a better environment. The European Union has created several directives and regulations to promote energy conservation and encourage companies to improve energy efficiency.
- Energy Efficiency Directive (EED): Promoting energy efficiency, such as energy savings targets and energy management systems.
- Ecodesign Directive: improving the energy efficiency of products.
- EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS): the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Energy Performance Directive (EPBD): Promoting energy efficiency in buildings through certifications, audits and smart meters.
Continuous commissioning
As a business, you may choose to turn the thermostat down a degree, but at the same time, you must also consider the comfort of your employees. If they are too cold, you only displace the problem. Commissioning allows you to monitor and record the effects of such measures. If the monitoring shows that a particular measure has negative effects, you have to look for alternatives, such as improving insulation or turning off systems outside working hours. This allows you to save energy without sacrificing comfort. These types of measures fall under the heading of “continuous commissioning,” which looks at whether installed systems are still providing the benefits for which they were originally installed.
In practice
Marco from D-TACS talks about a real-life example where energy efficiency played an important role: “I did the commissioning for an office building where employees complained about the heat, stuffiness, fatigue and headaches. During the commissioning process, I found out that the office building was originally intended to house 500 people, but by now 800 people were working there. That affected the temperature and CO2 levels. Based on the commissioning report, we started looking for a suitable solution.’
Solution
‘Initially, the client wanted to modify the ventilation system, but the landlord did not agree. Alternatively, we explored other options. Eventually, investments were made in cooling, and chairs were removed from the conference room. Although more people were allowed to take their seats, it became their responsibility when the room warmed up. Awareness played an important role here. The same was true of the high CO2 content. We have placed signage on the thermostat with color coding. When it turned red, it was necessary to ventilate more or allow fewer people in the room. We prepared a report and provided advice, after which the client finally decided to rent additional premises. This effectively solved the problems.
Energy-efficient sustainability
‘There is an awful lot that can be done in the field of sustainability and energy saving, but rarely does it achieve the optimal result,’ Marco continued. ‘The first short-term steps often have a big effect. Think of insulation, turning down the thermostat and switching from fluorescent lamps to LED light. But commissioning is indispensable for truly efficient sustainability.’
Get unburdened
Several initiatives can be taken to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings. By performing commissioning on existing buildings, energy savings of 10 to 30% can be realized. For new construction projects, an energy efficiency plan can be prepared in advance and monitoring can occur during the construction process to ensure this, resulting in savings of 13% to 16% compared to new construction projects that do not involve commissioning. Therefore, outsource your energy efficiency and choose D-TACS! In this way, you will be unburdened throughout the process and experience the benefits of an energy-efficient building within a short time. Contact us here.
