RS Components upgrades BMS to boost energy efficiency
RS Components has upgraded the building-management system in its distribution centre at Nuneaton to improve energy efficiency. Installer SSE Enterprise Energy Solutions worked with the company to upgrade the BMS for the 160 000 m2 facility to a Siemens Desigo design.
The system helps to manage heating, ventilation, air conditioning and an array of peripheral devices. Three Desigo Insight 5.1 terminals have been installed, which now offer a graphical interface for users.
The site is maintained by the facilities-management team of RS Components. Engineering manager Peter Reynolds explains, ‘The site was originally purpose built in 1995. At that time, there was no significant thought about sustainability. However, we are now progressively moving forward and looking to enhance and make the site as sustainable as possible.’
The building was designed for maximum storage capacity and is three storeys high.
Mr Reynolds explains, ‘The distribution centre runs for 24 hours, six days a week, so there is a genuine challenge to save energy in a building that is in almost constant use. Time scheduling and measuring energy usages are the simple but effective approaches that are now being applied at RS Components.’
The emphasis is on learning how the building performs and using all the benefits of the Desigo system.
The BMS is providing important information for the team that runs the building. Mr Reynolds is keen to expand on that, regarding the BMS as an important ongoing project. He comments, ‘The Desigo system is adaptable, and I would like to increase our metering to extend our knowledge of energy usage and trends, and to maintain an effective fully interactive management system.’
