BCA Academy: Zero Energy Building

Last updated: 30th September 2022

Net Zero Energy Building Performance Optimisation through BMS data integration and model calibration

IES used a model calibration approach to discover 12% & 7% operational savings and 21% retrofit savings in an existing 3-storey Zero Energy campus building.

IES was asked by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), Singapore to assess and identify opportunities to achieve optimal building performance in the existing 3-storey Zero Energy building on their Academy Campus. Using IES ERGON linked to its VE software, IES Consulting created a highly calibrated and detailed model of the building from real operational data obtained via the Building Management System (BMS).

Operational errors that would reduce energy consumption by 12% and 7% were discovered, while a 21% energy saving was shown to be possible if the existing chiller was upgraded.

The cloud-based tool ERGON manages and interrogates imported BMS and other operational data before allowing it to be exported to the VE as free form profiles. This allowed IES to compare the operation of the building against the design intent and possible ideal modes of building operation. This process identified changes to building operation that could improve performance of the building, and used the energy model as a decision tool for determining which retrofit options would have maximum impact.

IES was able to achieve an exceptional 1.1% Mean Bias Error (MBE) and 2.3% Coefficient of Variation of the Root Mean Squared error (CVRMSE) variation between the actual building and the calibrated model energy consumption. ASHRAE Guideline 14-2014 “Measurement of Energy, Demand and Water”, sets the acceptable calibration tolerances for monthly calibration at +/- 5% MBE and 15% CVRMSE.

Using its unique calibration approach, IES regularly achieves an MBE of 3-6% on similar projects, but was able to achieve such an exceptionally good calibration on this building due to the high availability of operational data. Typically targets of +/-10% MBE are deemed an acceptable calibration.

Using the data alone, IES was able to identify a number of operational faults, which it then investigated in detail using the calibrated model to quantify the impact on energy use.

  • Night time energy consumption (energy savings of 12% if eliminated)
  • FCUs operating during the weekend (energy saving of 7% if only operated when required)
  • High CO2 levels at VAV Box 3-2

The calibrated model also allowed IES to investigate opportunities for Energy Conservation Measure (ECM) or Retrofit improvements, and accurately estimate expected energy savings. For example, it looked at the impact of replacing the existing ZEB chiller, with two options: a chiller with a supply temperature of 11°C and the other 7°C. The calculated energy consumptions per month and associated savings were 21% for the 11°C chiller and 14% for the 7°C chiller respectively.



N.B. The information contained in this entry is provided by the above supplier, and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher


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