Sustainability management in energy consumption through optimised operation of HVAC systems in commercial buildings

Sustainability is a multifaceted concept that is being discussed and considered in almost every aspect of our society today. One of the significant business sections where sustainable development could be considered is in buildings. As most activities in buildings are significant contributors in energy considering their size and operating hours, reducing energy demand plays an important role in a building's sustainability. Most of the energy in buildings is used by heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; so high-level performance of an HVAC system is a critical factor in a building's sustainability. Building management systems (BMS), through using computer hardware and software, manage various functions of a building including but not limited to HVAC systems, which enables monitoring, controlling and optimising the operation of these systems that results in improving energy efficiency (Smiciklas et al. 2012). The aim of this research is to demonstrate the effects of an integrated and comprehensive HVAC operation in the reduction of energy consumption and CO2 emissions and to establish the potential for achieving a sustainable environment. In this regard, the performance of six chillers and three pumps, as most demanding components of a given HVAC system in terms of energy consumption, have been compared before and of after optimisation. Results show that through appropriate operational management not only the equipment life increase but a significant decrease in the greenhouse gas emissions also will be achieved.