Intelligent Buildings

Dashboards Benchmarking Real-Time Commissioning Sensors Goals

Dashboards

Dashboards for the campus, individual buildings and core teams are reviewed daily to monitor and adjust building health and performance in areas such as energy (electrical/gas) and water usage. Dashboards display real-time data using advanced meters against goals and other metrics to make informed decisions.

Benchmarking

The following benchmarking metrics are used as feed-back information to identify how buildings are performing and correct abnormal operation. Each metric below compares the current FY to date vs the previous FY to date.

  1. Energy Utilization Index (EUI) kBTU/sq.ft.
  2. EUI normalized for monthly average temperature.
  3. Electrical (kWh) consumption
  4. Natural Gas (therms) consumption
  5. Water (gallons) consumption
  6. Industrial, Landscaping, and Agricultural (ILA) (gallons) consumption

During the BOCC Real-Time Commissioning (RT-Cx) Monthly core team meetings these charts along with other more detailed building charts are displayed for each core team.

Real-Time Commissioning

The BOCC staff monitors data to optimize energy, extend asset life, and enhance the reliability and efficiency of PNNL's campus by communicating directly with building engineers throughout the campus.

The BOCC staff performs "real-time commissioning" in order to satisfy energy and water audits, metering, and commissioning requirements in the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007.

  • Perform functional tests on equipment to validate sequence of operation.
  • Validate automatic diagnostics of equipment when fault is detected.
  • Perform trending on data points to understand the equipment operation.
  • Perform Diagnostic Monitoring and Trend Verification of Systems continuously.
  • Perform annual Testing Adjusting & Balancing (TAB) Checks and Field FTPs (Power Operators/Air Balance).
  • All Real-Time Commissioning Data stored on share site for access by Building Engineers, Power Operators/Air Balance, and Design Engineers.
  • Track New Construction, Major Renovations and implement into Real-Time Commissioning Program.
  • Support Project Work as needed with regard to Air Balance and Commissioning (as needed).
  • Provide RT-Cx Daily/Weekly Reports to Core Team Power Operators capturing real-time commissioning data.
    • Overview of Core Teams operations.
    • Trending Analysis and Diagnostic Monitoring overviews from previous 24 hours.
    • Energy use data.
    • Field Functional Test results.
    • Issues List items (no- and low-cost).
    • Any TAB Field Data acquired.
    • Any Project Cx/TAB Data.
    • RCx findings.
  • Field operation capability using tablet technology.

Sensors

Sensors support real-time monitoring and troubleshooting for corrective actions, continuous commissioning and re-tuning of building systems, condition-based preventative maintenance (i.e. maintenance as-needed), and identification of priority energy-saving measures. When combined with building-level controllers and software that organizes the data, sensors can enable intelligent buildings that measure, sense and adapt to changing building conditions. When implemented as part of an intelligent building system, sensors have the potential to help reduce operating costs, save energy, increase building system reliability, and improve occupant comfort.

Space-temperature sensors

Space-temperature sensors (wireless) installed in all building spaces help to monitor and regulate HVAC-system efficiency and comfort

Demand-based ventilation sensors

Demand-based ventilation sensors trigger the introduction of fresh air into spaces by monitoring CO2 levels. They can also monitor volatile organic compounds when needed.

Air filter differential-pressure sensors

Air filter differential-pressure sensors signal when filters are becoming plugged and need to be replaced. Timely replacement improves HVAC efficiency and reduces costs.

Discharge-temperature sensors

Discharge-temperature sensors measure temperatures entering and leaving heating or cooling equipment, assisting with troubleshooting and automatic diagnostics.

BTU-metering sensors

BTU-metering sensors monitor the heating/cooling load on a building to measure the efficiency of boilers and/or chillers, as well as water flow.

CT/Status sensors

CT/Status sensors indicate whether or not equipment has actually responded when turned on or off, and used as a sub-meter.

Occupancy sensors

Occupancy Sensors provide feedback to shutoff lights, setback temperatures and airflow in unoccupied labs and offices.

Goals

High Performance Sustainable Buildings (HPSB) 

PNNL has certified three buildings as High Performance Sustainable Buildings (HPSB) using the Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Guiding Principles for existing buildings. Additionally, our newest facility, the Systems Engineering Building (3820), is also designed to meet the FEMP Guiding Principles and is our second Leadership in Energy and Environmental (LEED) Gold Certified building. 3820 is expected to achieve 32% energy savings which equates to annual energy cost savings of $11,000.

Energy Water

  • Reduce energy use intensity in buildings 30% from 2003-2015
  • Reduce GHG emissions from building energy use 28% from 2008-2020
  • Reduce potable water use intensity in buildings 2% annually, for a total of 16% by 2015 and 26% from 2007-2020
  • Reduce irrigation, landscaping, and industrial water use 20% from 2010-2020
  • Reduce energy use in Federal buildings by 2.5% per year from 2015-2025
  • Reduce water intensity in Federal buildings by 2% per year from 2015-2025