LCMB joins University of Sheffield project to unlock the Potential of Predictive Modelling in Non-Domestic Building Energy Management
The University of Sheffield has won an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) grant to explore making model-predictive control (MPC), an economically-viable proposition that could cut energy consumption by 25% in non-domestic buildings and associated infrastructure.
Non-domestic buildings, such as office spaces, currently account for 18% of the UK’s carbon emissions. Between 40-90% of this is energy consumed in the heating and cooling of buildings. The Carbon Trust estimates that UK non-domestic buildings currently waste £500 million worth of energy every year so the funding will provide the much-needed resource to analyse current methods and improve them.
“MPC has been used successfully in the chemical process industries for many years, but the costs of translating this technology to buildings are currently prohibitive. The Sheffield project will use advanced machine learning techniques, a branch of artificial intelligence (AI), to construct a building control system that produces good internal conditions while using the smallest amount of energy possible, thus allowing more sustainable design and usage.”
Dr Peter Rockett, Lecturer from Electronic & Electrical Engineering, University of Sheffield
This automated method is a radical departure from current practice, and to maximise the impact of this technique, engineers need to look at refurbishment projects as well as new builds as 60 per cent of existing buildings will still be in use by 2050.
Academics from the Departments of Civil & Structural Engineering, Electronic & Electrical Engineering and The School of Architecture are working together with leading industry partners including Arup, Buro Happold, LCMB, SE Controls and Trend Control Systems to explore methods to make MPC economically-viable for building energy management.
“LCMB invests in innovation to ensure our client solutions are at the forefront of current knowledge, wherever possible. We are delighted to support this project at the University of Sheffield as we believe the application of MPC to the UK’s non-domestic buildings can make a big difference to performance in terms of occupant comfort, productivity and building energy use.”
John O’Brien, Founder and MD, LCMB.
LCMB are building performance specialists who improve the operating, financial and environmental performance of building.
If you would like to know how our talented team can improve the performance of productivity of your buildings and estate then contact John O’Brien, Founder and MD on t: 01295 722823, m: 07711 032137 or e: [email protected]