Science building at the university reduces yearly energy expenses by $1.2 million, maintaining environmental safety ventilation standards.
Cimetrics' Analytika Pro Boosts Energy Efficiency and Sustainability at a University Science Building
In a significant stride towards energy savings and environmental stewardship, Cimetrics' Analytika Pro solution has made a notable impact on a university Science and Engineering Building (SEB). This 130,000 square foot nanotechnology research facility, home to class-10, class-100, and class-1,000 cleanrooms, offices, and classrooms, has seen a transformation in its energy efficiency and sustainability.
The journey began when a substantial leak was discovered in the humidifier steam jacket of a large air handling unit (AHU), leading to excess heating and cooling. However, the fault remained undetected on-site as the AHU was still providing the required humidity and temperature in the zones.
Cimetrics, in collaboration with SEB facilities personnel and Environmental Health & Safety personnel, defined and implemented a strategy to reduce air changes per hour (ACH) at the zone level, maximizing savings while maintaining adequate ventilation in the spaces. This strategy proved to be a game-changer, leading to a significant reduction in energy consumption.
The implementation of Cimetrics' solution resulted in a total energy savings of $1.2 million per year, equating to 25% of the annual cost. The annual energy savings achieved were $216,105, while the operating cost reduction was $9 per square foot, with a simple payback of less than 6 months and a net present value of $4.2 million.
The Analytika Pro platform enabled the facility management team to reduce operational waste by identifying inefficiencies and optimizing HVAC operations. This led to measurable cost reductions in energy consumption, with annual savings reported in the range of tens of thousands of dollars. Case studies highlight savings typically between 10-30% on energy bills after implementation.
By optimizing equipment run-times and setpoints, the building's energy usage became more efficient, directly reducing electricity and natural gas consumption. This reduction in energy use translated to a significant decrease in carbon footprint, often amounting to a reduction of several hundred metric tons of CO2 annually. The sustainability impact was also aligned with the university's goal to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, improving the building’s overall environmental performance.
The Analytika Pro solution also played a pivotal role in fault detection and optimization. It identified HVAC schedules that were either overlapping unnecessarily or running during unoccupied hours, allowing the team to adjust these schedules for better efficiency. The solution detected faults such as stuck dampers, malfunctioning valves, sensor calibration errors, and abnormal equipment cycling that otherwise went unnoticed. Addressing these faults prevented energy waste.
Moreover, the system helped optimize temperature and pressure setpoints in chiller and air handling systems, ensuring equipment operated closer to ideal efficiency parameters. Faults in variable air volume (VAV) boxes and related controls were found and corrected, improving occupant comfort while lowering energy use.
Over 1,000 Analytika software algorithms were used to analyze the data and identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption, improve comfort, and reduce operations and maintenance costs. Cimetrics collaborated with Siemens to connect to and collect sensor and actuator data from nearly 3,500 physical points in SEB.
In conclusion, Cimetrics’ Analytika Pro solution has significantly contributed to energy savings and sustainability at the university Science and Engineering Building. Through continuous monitoring and analytics-driven insight, the building management team can maintain and improve energy efficiency proactively, resulting in substantial operational cost savings, CO2 emissions reductions, and enhanced sustainability credentials for the university building. The university's aim to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 2006 levels is well on its way to being achieved, thanks to the implementation of Cimetrics' Analytika Pro solution.
- The university's Science and Engineering Building has seen a transformation in energy efficiency and sustainability, thanks to Cimetrics' Analytika Pro solution.
- The Analytika Pro platform enabled the facility management team to reduce operational waste and optimize HVAC operations, leading to measurable cost reductions in energy consumption.
- The implementation of Cimetrics' solution resulted in a total energy savings of $1.2 million per year, equating to 25% of the annual cost.
- By optimizing equipment run-times and setpoints, the building's energy usage became more efficient, directly reducing electricity and natural gas consumption.
- The Analytika Pro solution played a pivotal role in fault detection and optimization, identifying inefficiencies and preventing energy waste.
- Faults in variable air volume (VAV) boxes and related controls were found and corrected, improving occupant comfort while lowering energy use.
- The university's aim to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 2006 levels is well on its way to being achieved, thanks to the implementation of Cimetrics' Analytika Pro solution.
- Case studies highlight savings typically between 10-30% on energy bills after implementation of similar solutions in other facilities.
- This significant stride towards energy savings and environmental stewardship can be seen as a model for other universities and industrial facilities, demonstrating the potential for technology, policy, and finance to drive sustainable living and environmental-science advancements in the industry.
