Project Overview
As low-carbon technologies feature more prominently in modern building design, it is vital that they perform to an acceptable and predictable standard, and that their performance accurately reflects the intended design. This requires high-resolution in-use data, which can be challenging both to obtain and to process.
HALO projects took a first step towards the acquisition of such high-resolution in-use data for their Enterprise & Innovation Hub in Kilmarnock. The building has a BREEAM Excellent rating and uses several renewable and low-carbon technologies. They approached PNDC to analyse this data and evaluate the performance of these low-carbon technologies over multiple years. This project is currently in the second year of performance monitoring and evaluation
Project Aims
This project involves the processing of large quantities of building data (34 individual data points at 15-minute resolution) from HALO’s Enterprise & Innovation Hub. This data is then used to characterise the performance of the building in terms of its internal environment, energy consumption and the performance of its various low carbon technologies. This in turn is used to identify anomalies and actionable items for HALO, and to provide them with regular updates on building performance.
PNDC collate and process data on a 6-monthly basis, before conducting in-depth analysis and identifying trends in building performance and actionable items arising. These are communicated in the form of project reports.
Data collection began in July 2022 and is scheduled to run until June 2025.
Project Outcomes
Since the project began, PNDC has analysed over 1.7 million individual data points. The results show the levels of insight into building performance that are achievable through the collation and analysis of high-quality building data. Examples of this include:
The examination of Air Source Heat Pump zoning and operating schedules and their impact on internal temperature (see graph below)
Graph showing ASHP activation and internal temperature over a typical day
Graph showing ASHP activation and internal temperature over a typical day
The comparison of external temperature, building occupancy levels and Air Source Heat Pump operation as key drivers of building electrical consumption
The contribution of on-site photovoltaic arrays towards overall building energy demand, including how this varies throughout the year and the amount of CO2 emissions they offset (see graph below)
The evaluation of internal environment quality during occupied hours
In-use energy consumption benchmark comparison
Daily electrical consumption plot, July to September (red = high, green = low)
The evaluation of internal environment quality during occupied hours
In-use energy consumption benchmark comparison
Daily electrical consumption plot, July to September (red = high, green = low)
PNDC’s Impact
Our reports have provided HALO with broad-ranging insights into the performance of their building. Used in conjunction with BREEAM’s seasonal commissioning process, this has helped to identify a number of efficiency savings, which in turn have been evidenced and quantified in the subsequent data. It has also provided a means of comparison between design-phase energy consumption estimates and in-use figures.
Testimonials
Building Management System data is an often underutilised resource, with a huge potential role to play in the decarbonisation of both current and future buildings. This project shows the insights that such data can provide when it comes to building performance, optimisation and efficiency.
Get in touch
PNDC project leads: Dr Callum Rae and Dr Priya Bhagavathy.
For further information on this case study or to discuss collaborative opportunities, please get in touch.
Established in 2013, PNDC is one of the University of Strathclyde’s industry-facing innovation centres and focuses on accelerating the development and deployment of novel energy and transport technologies through multiple collaboration models and open access facility provision.
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