Partly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, many clients have now invested in air quality monitoring technology and we’re seeing an increasing range of use-cases. In higher education there has been a big focus on CO2 monitoring at part of the COVID-19 response and implementing guidance from the HSE – find out more and join in our May Webinar. In other sectors, clients are using monitors to validate ventilation performance, identify energy saving opportunities and as part of measures to improve wellbeing and comfort conditions for staff.
The technology is now able to consistently deliver real-world benefits and provide a good return on investment. LCMB have been working with Airthings for the last eight months and their devices address many of the previous shortcomings. Our experience from six-years working in this area also means we understand how to maximise the value of the data these devices produce as part of long-term building optimisation works.
In summary, I feel we have passed the phase of early adopters and can now quantify the benefits for an organisation and help you decide if IoT is a worthwhile investment for your estate. Costs are directly related to the number of devices, meaning it’s possible to spend anything from a few hundred pounds to tens of thousands. LCMB can help you find the right solution for your buildings that is scaled according to estate size and user requirements.
Below are some examples of how our clients are already benefiting. If you want to discuss specific use cases for your estate, it would be good to hear from you.
Potential Benefits
Ventilation:
- CO2 monitors can alert you if mechanical ventilation systems fail or are not providing the required fresh air for the number of occupants in a space
- In naturally ventilated rooms, monitors can help to manage when windows or doors should be opened or to identify spaces where windows are not being opened as requested
- In naturally ventilated rooms the relationship between temperature and air quality can be monitored
Energy:
- Data can be used to identify unnecessary heating and cooling out of normal operating hours
- Detect where ventilation is running in unoccupied spaces
- Help design enhanced plant control strategies that can be programmed into the BMS
- Used as part of measurement and verification tools to track impacts of energy saving investments
Compliance & FM Contractors Performance
- Track the amount of time buildings are operated with target ranges for temperature, CO2 and other parameters. This can be linked to performance metrics and KPIs
- Monitoring platforms will record data which can be used to demonstrate the building ventilation has been adequate and link findings of poor air quality to remedial action
- Data platform can show if maintenance teams have completed necessary remedial works related to heating and ventilation
- Air quality metrics provide targets for organisations wanting to optimise wellbeing and productivity of their building users
- Data can be used to feedback to building users and demonstrate an organisations commitment to creating a healthy workplace
Investment
- Data can be used as part of rating asset performance and tracking faults
- Outcomes can support investment cases and help prioritise assets at high failure risk or which are not delivering adequate performance.
LCMB are industry leaders in building optimisation. If you would like to find out more about how we can help your organisation achieve these benefits, please contact us for an informal discussion.
You can also join our May webinar to learn how LCMB and King’s College London have installed air quality monitors to manage their estates.
Tom Cudmore, Senior Consultant
01295 576 000
