Building a strong argument for implementing a BMS

The role of a building management system (BMS) now goes beyond just managing day-to-day operations. It has become an essential part of making buildings more energy-efficient, following environmental laws, and contributing to a greener planet.

It connects modern technology, eco-friendly practices, and improved functionality. It manages a range of building functions, such as temperature control, lighting, and safety features, ensuring they work together smoothly.

For people in charge of buildings, like managers, owners and decision-makers, highlighting the need for a BMS is critical for safeguarding their investments and reducing the costs of running their buildings. 

Understanding what’s needed: To make a strong case for BMS, a deep dive into your current setup is crucial. You need to pinpoint areas of waste and inefficiency and explore how a BMS can make improvements. Whether it’s energy that’s being used when it shouldn’t be or systems that need constant fixing, highlighting these issues helps paint a clear picture of the benefits BMS offers.

Seeing the financial benefits: Discussing the financial perks of installing a BMS is crucial. Calculate the savings by looking at reduced energy use, streamlined operations, and fewer repair bills. A platform like the SMARTR BMS can provide specifics on the return of investment and the long-term savings, which is especially compelling for those watching the budget closely.

Laying out a plan: Creating a roadmap for BMS involves sketching out detailed steps, including what will be done, when, and with what budget. Starting on a smaller scale might be wise to demonstrate the system’s benefits early on and refine your strategy based on real-life experiences. Importantly, your plan should be flexible enough to grow and adapt to new technology down the line.

The SMARTR solution

SMARTR Automation (the name for our BMS) includes features for climate control, energy management, smart analytics, and space optimisation. It’s the next evolution for Building Management Systems and each feature is designed for specific management areas, bringing precision and efficiency to the forefront.

This digital tool, supported by Smart Multisense and the Smart-VUE dashboard, allowed the court to monitor and control real-time building occupancy. This system was crucial in making informed decisions to keep court hearings going safely and efficiently.

Alongside controlling building entry, the Washroom Occupancy Solution ensured better hygiene and safety measures. By counting how many people used the washrooms, it guided cleaning schedules to keep the environment safer.
These solutions did more than just ensure user safety; they offered significant perks, such as reducing the need for extra security staff, saving energy by managing utilities based on area usage, and keeping space use at its best.

Moreover, by combining the Building and Washroom Occupancy systems, Equans Digital helped HMCTS save costs. Together, Equans Digital’s SMARTR innovations helped the courts operate effectively during the pandemic, providing peace of mind and safety for its staff, the public, and businesses.

Are you ready to make a convincing argument for BMS?

It’s the perfect time to start the journey towards more intelligent, economical, and environmentally friendly building management.

The user-friendly interface of SMARTR Automation acts as a central command centre, making it simpler to make informed decisions and improve the building’s functionality. Proactive management is vital for swiftly addressing challenges and ensuring operations run smoothly.

Beyond saving energy, SMARTR’s sophisticated analytics provide a holistic view of building operations, uncovering opportunities for cost reduction and minimising the environmental footprint. This approach generates actionable insights, enabling decision-makers to achieve significant cost savings and operational improvements.

HMCTS oversees about 350 courts across the UK and aims to reduce its annual carbon emissions of 60,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Following the UK Government’s commitment, a £142 million investment has been made for digital and sustainability enhancements across the estate.

Smart building solutions enhancing efficiency

The EQUANS Smart Buildings team has played a key role in the digital and energy transition. We have updated the buildings management systems (BMS), which involved both planned and preventive maintenance, alongside the use of our Digital Operations Centre for remote diagnostics and proactive interventions. These efforts are all geared towards maintaining smooth building operations with reduced energy use.

Integrating smart technology for proactive management
The integration of our BMS with the Digital Operations Centre, through the SMARTR Connect solution, is a critical step towards improving our operational efficiency. This allows us to monitor the facilities’ performance constantly and gain real-time insights for prompt problem-solving, thereby ensuring uninterrupted building operation and enhancing cost-effectiveness.

Upgrade of Lincoln Magistrates Court’s BMS
As part of the investment, we have also upgraded the BMS at Lincoln Magistrates Court to a state-of-the-art Trend BMS. The new system enables efficient monitoring and management of the building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, which includes:

• Low-temperature hot water (LTHW)
• Domestic hot water systems (DHWS)
• Chilled water (CHW)
• Air handling units (AHUs) numbered 1 to 8
• Toilet extract system

Unified management for amplified efficiency

Linking the BMS of two sites into one management point has streamlined operations and bolstered facility management. This centralised management approach affords real-time monitoring, proactive maintenance and swift response capabilities, reducing administrative tasks and enhancing the resilience of our facilities.

Client endorsement
The HMCTS Senior Project Sponsor acknowledged the project’s timely and budget-compliant delivery, highlighting its importance in meeting net-zero targets, even during active court operations.

Impact on carbon footprint
The advanced BMS and Digital Operations Centre use translates into a substantial reduction in their carbon footprint, with energy savings in the range of 10-20%. The centralised monitoring and analytics provide detailed energy consumption insights, allowing for smarter management and considerable waste reduction, showcasing their commitment to environmental sustainability.

For additional details on how we can assist with our expertise, contact Equans SMARTR today.