Building Optimization Project (BOP)

The Building Optimization Project is a partnership between UBC’s Okanagan Sustainability Office, Facilities Management and FortisBC to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions from legacy campus buildings. Monitoring software, developed by Pulse Energy, has been installed in nine campus buildings.

The software connects to our buildings’ energy meters, collects the data, analyzes it, then displays the results in real-time on this dashboard.  Taking into account weather and occupancy variability, the software also monitors energy use and identifies anomalies so building control changes can be made.

Baseline energy use for electricity, gas, hot water (boilers) and chilled water (district energy) will be established.  During this time, you can visit this dashboard at any time to monitor your building’s monthly, weekly or daily energy performance in real-time.

Once the energy baseline phase has been completed, we will be engaging the building occupants in the implemetation of various energy conservation projects. The project list approved so far is:

CCS Building

1.1   Scheduling and Optimal Start – Equipment schedules may be optimised to reflect the actual building schedule.  Building schedules may be shortened, while using existing override switches to allow for after hours operation. A holiday schedule may be implemented to turn off heating and ventilation on statutory holidays.  An optimal start routine may also be implemented which evaluates the difference between space temperature and set point one hour (adj.) before the schedule begins and decides how early to start up the ventilation  in order to achieve desirable space conditions at the beginning of the schedule.  An occupant engagement campaign will be conducted which notifies occupants of override capabilities and clearly marks buttons.  If necessary, occupancy sensors may be installed in critical areas of the building.

1.2 RTU Demand Controlled Ventilation – The minimum position may then modulate between absolute min and 100% based on CO2 levels and OAT.  Free cooling opportunities should be maximized whenever OAT is greater than average zone temperature. Mechanical cooling may be enabled when free cooling is unable to meet SAT setpoint for 10 minutes.

1.3 RTU SAT Reset  – SAT reset programs may be recomissioned to reset based on average space conditions.  Demand may be determined using reheat coil valve positions.

1.4 RTU Freeze Protection – RTU HCV min position of 5% may be enabled when RTU mixed air temperature drops below a 5°C

1.5 Reheat Coil Control Valve Recomissioning  – Reheat coil CVs may be modulated based on difference between RT and RTSP.  A night time dead band of ±1°C may be implemented.  RHCVs may be closed unless RTU is enabled.

1.6 MUA Supply Air Pressure Reduction  – A MUA schedule may be implemented to shut off the supply fan after hours.  The static air pressure setpoint may be reduced to 5 Pa.

1.7 Fan Coils Control Recomissioning – Fan coil SAT reset should be recomissioned to modulate HCV and CCV valves to achieve RTSP, rather than SAT.  SAT should be limited to 30°C (adj.) to avoid stratification. Overrides may be set to 2 hours. SAT sensors should be checked and calibrated.  Leaky heating coil valves should be fixed.

1.8 Force Flow Control Recomissioning – Force flow heater control tuning should be adjusted to avoid overheating spaces.

1.9 Vending Miser – Vending misers may be installed that control machine lighting and compressors based on a programmed occupancy schedule.

Arts Building

1.1   Vending Miser – Vending misers may be installed that control machine lighting and compressors based on a programmed occupancy schedule.