Toshiba’s new-generation RBC-TSI1 Black Pear air-conditioning controller includes a range of built-in modes to suit particular applications. They are hotel mode and two eco modes, one based on a timed fan operation and the other with separate setpoints for heating and cooling.

Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch, east London, has added a Trend IQView8 touchscreen to its Trend BEMS to enable the system to be monitored in real time and adjustments made to energy use as and when necessary. Terry Abbot, head of facilities at the theatre, explains that he was previously unable to see what the BEMS was doing and relied upon Trend’s engineers to make adjustments when they visited the site for maintenance and service work.

As technology partner for Carnegie Hall in New York, Siemens installed the new systems for an infrastructure upgrade to Studio Towers, a central focus of which was the installation of the new 5600 m2 Resnick Education Wing on the hall’s upper floors and the refurbishment of backstage areas.

Not only can modern approaches to lighting control in commercial buildings save energy, but they can significantly reduce the payback period — as Bastiaan de Groot of Feilo Sylvania explains.

Rinnai continuous-flow water heaters can be fully connected with building-management systems across multiple platforms — including popular protocols such as Modbus and BACnet. No longer need water heaters be isolated in lonely plant rooms.

Hotels, by the very nature of their occupancy patterns, can be an energy-efficiency nightmare. Steve Browning of Trend Control Systems explains how a building energy management system (BEMS) can reduce expenditure on this resource while creating the perfect comfort conditions for guests.

Sacrificing a building’s controls specification to reduce costs can only lead to the building failing to perform as intended — believes Malcolm Anson of the Building Controls Industry Association.

A building-management system is a powerful tool — in many ways. Reece Thomas of Airedale International Air Conditioning Ltd offers guidance on how to choose a system.

Without an effective building management system (BMS) monitoring strategy, seemingly small inefficiencies can result in rapidly mounting costs if left undetected, says Wago’s Steve Emberton. By harnessing big data, a building’s systems can avoid downtime and deliver more energy savings in the future through ongoing optimisation and elimination of wasteful practices.

Panasonic and Schneider Electric have developed a wireless interface that enables direct serial communication between Schneider Electric’s SmartStruxure solution and room controllers with Panasonic’s VRF air-conditioning systems via the ZigBee wireless communication standard. This integration provides a view of all building systems — including HVAC equipment, lighting, security, power and electrical distribution — anywhere and at any time. via a single interface. it delivers actionable insights to reduce energy consumption and drive savings.

The electrical consumption for mechanical services at Her Majesty’s Prison Edinburgh has been reduced by nearly 27% following the implementation of a Trend controls survey. The associated reduction in overall site consumption was 11%. The savings amount to many thousands of pounds, and the return on investment (ROI) for all works, including replacing outdated and obsolete plant was very favourable and fell well within the defined requirements of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS).

The Internet of Things opens up whole new possibilities for managing all the systems associated with running a building. Brin Sheridan of Utilitywise comments on the changing shape of building-management systems and the impact of IoT.

Sontay has expanded its range of Smart Communication sensors to offer system integrators, contractors and building-services consultants more choice. Following the success of the predefined range, Sontay has created a ‘build-your-own’ sensor with a variety of capabilities, depending on customer budgets and needs. Prices start at £75 and rise with increasing proficiency.

Building-automation specialist B.E.G. has delivered an integrated lighting-control strategy for the new premises of electrical-engineering company Darke & Taylor in Blenheim Office Park at Long Hanborough in Oxfordshire. Not only does the system provide effective control for individual rooms, but, as Simon Newton, commercial director with Darke & Taylor, explains, ‘An added advantage is that we can demonstrate the benefits of these technologies to existing and potential customers.’

Beckhoff Automation’s CX-series controller provides a flexible and simple-to-use platform that enables building owners to reduce energy costs. Embedded PC technology allows for scalable solutions — from standalone single-application devices through to multi-core devices capable of full building control, including vast data processing and reporting in real time.

The BACnet Interest Group Europe (BIG-EU) has announced the release of BACnet Standard ASHRAE 135-2016, four years after the publication of the last version. A multitude of additions and revisions have been included in 400 additional pages.

When KCE FM won the facilities-management contract for an office building in London’s Park Lane, one of the immediate tasks was to reduce energy consumption and enhance comfort. With the help of the existing Trend BMS, energy costs for 49 Park Lane were reduced by over 21% compared with the same period a year earlier.

Timely notification about any events concerning a building-services infrastructure is vital. However, Peter Moore of Trend Control Systems is concerned that too many individual alarms are deterring end users from configuring a building energy management system (BEMS) to undertake the monitoring of their key compliance needs.

Cool Designs, which distributes the Toshiba range of air-conditioning and heat-pump systems, has developed a controller that can be used with Toshiba’s full commercial range of splits, heat pumps and VRF systems. The controller optimises indoor comfort for individual rooms in a building and reduces energy use.

Renovating lighting in its national distribution centre is achieving energy savings of over £150 000 a year for distributor Wolseley UK. The savings come from an overhaul of lighting infrastructure inside and outside its main warehouse in Leamington Spa and surrounding offices. Supported by FM company Cloudfm, the quality and quantity of lighting was assessed to look for alternatives to reduce energy use and maintenance.

Sauter’s ecoUnit-Touch room-operating unit has a slick design and can be operated like a smartphone with the touch of a finger. It enables individual room settings to be made easily and elegantly, without impairing the energy efficiency of the system.

Sauter’s Vialoq AVM 215 valve actuator provides 500 N of actuating power and has a nominal stroke from 8 to 20 mm. Its compatibility with commercially available valve types makes it well suited for retrofit projects. Synchronous motors are available for 24 or 230 V power supplies.

Reznor’s SmartCom intelligent energy-management controller is compatible with radiant-tube, warm-air and many other types of heating system. It is straightforward and easy to use and has a wide range of energy-optimising features.

Rinnai continuous-flow water heaters can be fully connected with building-management systems across multiple platforms — including popular protocols such as Modbus and BACnet. No longer need water heaters be isolated in lonely plant rooms.

Sauter’s ecos505 room controller is a single device that can integrate all systems for room automation with demand-led control of room climate, lighting and sunshading. It is a freely programmable BACnet building controller.