Gas savings and carbon reduction have been achieved at this Further and Higher Education College in Luton with a web based Building Energy Management System (BEMS). The project generated independently verified annual savings of 34% with a payback period of 14.3 months.

Previously the heating, ventilation and cooling in the five plant rooms at the main campus operated in isolation. Basic timing with manual over-rides resulted in heating and cooling fighting each other in the same areas and extremes of temperature.

In the first phase of the project wireless temperature and light sensors were fitted across the main campus with integrated automated remote centralised control of the main energy consuming equipment, eg boilers and calorifiers, providing the management at Barnfield with a web based real-time Carbon Management System that reduces energy usage whilst maintaining a comfortable working environment for students, staff and visitors.

Results

“I have found the real-time remote visibility and control afforded by the system to be extremely valuable in providing insights and the capability to help me reduce the energy usage on the site - and at the same time maintain or improve teaching and staff working environment.”
Gary Kennedy, College Facilities Manager

At the time of installation in Feb 2010, the five plant rooms were running for a total of 728 hours out of a possible 840 hours a week (5 x 24hrs x 7days ), ie. 86.7% of the available time. Run-hours of the five plant rooms were reduced to 340 hours – a reduction of 53.3%, by implementing automatic remote over-ride through the new system. An Easter holiday automatic timed over-ride schedule implemented through the system allowed the boiler run-hours to be reduced by a further 45.9%, from 340 down to 184 hours.

A report commissioned from an independent company using the original monthly billing information provided by Barnfield College and standard degree days noted that over a full year, the new system should produce a saving of 34% of energy, resulting in a reduction in cost and CO₂ emissions.

Going Forward

Increased co-ordinating of remote controls with on-site works, such as further separating and controlling heating and hot water services.
Phasing in additional functionality at the main campus, which will deliver further savings, such as: user boiler over-ride off; further time schedule/run hours adjustment; external temperature compensation; automatic boiler override off if demand satisfied to combined room and hot water temperature rules; critical alarms for space and hot water temperature targets.
Incorporated other systems at the main site into the system, such as air conditioning and lighting.
Monitor and manage all of Barnfield College’s sites across Luton.

"We are determined to reduce our carbon footprint for both environmental and economic reasons. We explored various systems currently on the market and concluded that this system would best meet our needs. We are serious about our Green Policy and the Carbon Management System that we are building will generate significant sustainable energy savings with a quick payback on our investment. We are pleased to be leading the way and will be encouraging other education and training organisations to adopt this approach”.
Pete Birkett, Chief Executive and Chairman