PBSA energy management: Disruptive or adaptive solutions
The first is to make the existing building fabric more energy efficient and is known as a disruptive solution. The second is to maximise the energy used by the asset and reduce energy waste by installing an energy management system, this is considered an adaptive solution.
In this blog we will look at the advantages of using a PBSA energy management system and heating management systems specifically, as adaptive solutions that will save energy and lower fuel bills and carbon emissions for the existing student accommodation building.
The benefits of using an energy management system as an adaptive solution for the asset managers of existing PBSA is just one of many topics explored in the SmarterDM white paper ‘Intelligent heating solutions – reducing carbon emissions and energy costs for hotels and student accommodation’ that is available as a free download.
Why is using the adaptive solution of an energy management system attractive to existing PBSA providers?
The adaptive solution of an energy management system is attractive to existing PBSA providers as it provides a way to improve the energy efficiency of assets by targeting energy wastage by the occupiers, with minimal disruption to its operation and the resident students.
The energy management system allows asset managers to monitor and remotely control heating systems. This ensures that when student rooms are unoccupied – either during the day or, for longer periods of weeks between terms, the heating is adjusted accordingly to reduce unnecessary overheating. This cuts energy bills and reduces the operational carbon of the asset.
The alternative approach of employing a disruptive solution, requires retrofitting of the existing building fabric and systems to improve the energy efficiency of the asset. Thermal upgrades to fabric measures can be introduced through extra insulation or improved energy saving windows and new HVAC systems can be investigated to see what operational energy savings they might introduce. As well as being disruptive, these solutions can require heavy financial investment. They do not compensate for the behavioural factors of the occupants, so, even after retrofitting, unnecessarily energy wastage will be present increasing energy costs.
An adaptive solution will take the current asset and, through minimal retrofitting of HVAC systems, create an intelligent heating system where the business can take control of the heating and cooling patterns and their associated costs.
As energy costs are a significant part of the operational expenditure of student accommodation, intelligent heating solutions can give a rapid return on investment and improve profitability for PBSA providers, whilst still delivering a comfortable environment for their resident students.
This was the case for a leading PBSA provider and real estate asset management within the student housing sector. They were looking for a more efficient way to manage the student heating systems on a single site. A SmarterDM energy management system was retrofitted and delivered heating energy savings of 63% in occupied student areas and 86% in unoccupied areas. This resulted in an annual cost saving of £28K and meant that the SmarterDM solution provided would pay for itself in just over two years.
Where can find more information on the benefits of using an adaptive PBSA energy management solution for existing assets?
More information on the benefits of using an adaptive PBSA energy management solution for existing assets can be found in the SmarterDM white paper ‘Intelligent heating solutions – reducing carbon emissions and energy costs for hotels and student accommodation.’
SmarterDM is an innovative UK based software and hardware development company that delivers intuitive systems for asset holders to help monitor, report, and manage data in real time.
If you'd like to learn more about the benefits that a SmarterDM energy management system could bring to your existing PBSA asset, please contact us, and our expert team will be in touch to provide a free indicative energy saving calculation.