HVAC system is a major component of your commercial space as they provide a number of benefits in regular operation of the building or facility, hence it is imperative that you have your HVAC system periodically maintained and serviced to avoid system failure and unnecessary repair costs. However, just regular maintenance and servicing is not enough in today’s fast paced era where even a short downtime can cost you thousands of dollars. Having an efficient HVAC monitoring system for your commercial space can help you constantly track the performance and energy use of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units in your building, send direct alerts and notifications in case of any discrepancy and prevent major repairs and downtime. In this article, we take a look at what entails a HVAC monitoring system and how it can be beneficial for your facility or building.
Why Is it important?
HVAC system is no doubt an integral part of a facility or building as it is necessary not only for ensuring comfort of building occupants but also for maintaining optimum condition for equipment and/or manufacturing.
In addition, HVAC system also helps to regulate dust, microbes in the air, and thus during this pandemic, it is important more than ever to ensure that your HVAC system is working properly to minimize the risk of spread and transmission of COVID-19. This is where the HVAC monitoring system steps in as it provides constant and accurate data of your HVAC system performance and efficiency. Without HVAC analytics, problems with equipment may remain undetected for a long time where you lose efficiency, as well as incur high energy costs or major repair costs. In addition to exorbitantly increasing operating expenses, HVAC system problems can also cause health problems in workers, result in sickness and absenteeism as well as reduce your overall workforce productivity by 6%-10%.
One of the major steps you can take to improve your system efficiency and make your building into an energy saving one is to install a monitoring system that covers the entire HVAC system, including chillers, exhaust fans, and so on. The HVAC monitoring app can help you identify issues and get corrected in real time, thus preventing any lag time. Furthermore, consumption profiles can be easily evaluated by machine learning algorithms to provide accurate forecasts of future problems. This enables you to take preventive measures and fix the problem proactively and thereby reduce major servicing and repair costs as well as save time.
In addition, today’s advanced IoT solutions lets you manage the entire system remotely from anywhere with cellular connectivity. You can do multiple tasks through your HVAC monitoring app such as:
- Monitor and energy consumption- Find out exactly how much energy you are using for heating and ventilation.
- Perform energy audits- Get real time statistics and reports on historical energy profile.
- Detect energy wastages instantly – Set up alerts whenever certain levels are reached.
- Operate equipment remotely- Control and better manage your equipment from anywhere, anytime.
How does the HVAC monitoring system work?
In today’s fast paced technological era, HVAC monitoring system offers cost effective solutions to provide 24/7 tracking and regulating your HVAC units. With this, as a facility manager or building operating you can get useful data, observe trends, and optimize usage that helps in lowering energy costs and carbon footprint. It uses sensors for collecting building data and displays this data in a single interface for actions to be taken promptly. This provides today’s progressive building operators with a high-level knowledge and understanding of their HVAC units without relying on technicians all the time and helps them detect any anomaly that can prevent costly damage and repairs.
In addition, the data provides a holistic view of the HVAC system, so it accurately predicts usage demand of HVAC system, thus optimizing its use. If at any point real-time demand does not match the predicted demand, the system can trigger an alert sent directly to the building operator whenever there is an anomaly. This enables the building manager to resolve any impending issues speedily as well as improves HVAC system efficiency.
A-TECH Engineering, a leading building automation and HVAC controls provider in Toronto, provides you with state-of-the-art HVAC monitoring system that helps you reduce energy bills and increase efficiency. In addition, you can also avail innovative HVAC cleaning technology that helps not only increase efficiency but also improve indoor air quality by killing germs and microbes and reducing risk and transmission of diseases like COVID-19. To learn more, connect with an A-TECH Engineering specialist today and take control of your building system.
A building automation system no doubt provides building owners and facility managers with a plethora of benefits such as smooth performance, increased efficiency, lower costs and so on. As a result, it might compel you to think why bother to upgrade it when it is working perfectly well? Although it is logical for you to be concerned about this, an upgrade to IoT connected BAS can step up the entire system and provide you with unprecedented benefits that a traditional BAS simply cannot. In this article we discuss how IoT benefits and strengthens your building automation system and leave it up to you to decide whether you should consider updating your system or not.
What is the IoT?
Before we delve into the benefits of integrating IoT and building automation system, let us first take a look at what is the IoT or Internet of Things. IoT is simply utilizing internet connectivity, cellular communication, and sensors or microprocesses to monitor and control things we use in our regular lives from our homes to office to cars. IoT does not only refer to communication over the web via machines rather it starts with web connectivity to devices and sensors, combines powerful data with the goal to generate valuable insights that can be accessed through a user interface. For the Building Automation System (BAS) industry, devices and sensors can be found at the direct digital control (DDC) level such as rooftop HVAC units, lighting fixtures and so on. The use of IoT enabled BAS empowers not only BAS providers and system manufacturers but also a wide range of stakeholders, including facility managers, building owners, energy managers, utility providers as well as building occupants.
How the IoT strengthens Building Automation System
Access to real-time data
With an IoT empowered Building Automation System, as a facility or building manager you can get real-time data of your building systems at your fingertips, anywhere. This access makes it easier for you to monitor and control the various building systems, take prompt and better decisions that help enhance the building system. It also means that the data you receive is simplified and user-friendly, so that you do not always have to rely on technicians to come to your rescue. You also get to see real-time trends, understand them, and take steps that are better for your business. For example, from HVAC monitoring data you can see an area of your property is being overheated or underheated, you can optimize your HVAC system to make sure the problem is solved. This will save energy as well as enhance occupancy comfort.
Holistic overview of building system
Integrating IoT solutions with Building Automation System means more than just controlling your building systems such as HVAC or lighting. It gives you a full overview of the entire building, so you gain better insight into your building operations – whether it is HVAC performance, equipment condition, or security issue. For example, temperature sensors in important assets like chiller can reveal existing issues, provide predictive analysis so that you can take preventive measures and reduce maintenance and repair costs.
Lower utility costs
Since one of the major purposes of building automation system is to reduce utility costs, IoT helps to achieve just that. With traditional BAS, HVAC system could be controlled in a pre-set, uniform manner. However, since everything is predefined, it can result in overheating or underheating some areas. In such cases IoT sensors provide real-time data and enable better in-demand control thereby reducing wasted energy costs. In addition, with easy access to helpful insights, facility managers or building owners can transform their building into an energy saving building by observing trends in lighting or HVAC system and ensuring better management of the system. For example, using submetering with IoT provides property managers as well as users to find out accurate usage of power consumption and take necessary actions to reduce utility costs as well as identify problems.
Reducing carbon footprint
Many industries depend on efficient use of HVAC system to reduce their carbon footprint. An IoT enabled Building Automation System helps in identifying energy waste, reducing energy costs, improving efficiency, and reducing carbon footprint. As a result, for today’s energy conscious facility managers or building owners, investing in IoT connected BAS is a rational step in order to reduce environmental impact of the business.
Enhanced comfort of building occupants
Whether you are a facility manager or a business owner, it is imperative that the building occupants are living or working in a safe, healthy, and comfortable environment to ensure satisfaction as well as productivity. Investing in IoT powered BAS in this case provides you with accurate and better control of the environment thereby elevating occupants’ comfort. Whether it is improving indoor air quality, controlling temperature or lighting, IoT sensors play a powerful role in maintaining a healthy and comfortable indoor ambiance.
In addition, with access to real-time data facility managers can accurately monitor the usage of the property, schedule maintenance, repair or cleaning activities in a timely manner and provide an elevated experience of comfort to the building occupants. This in return fosters productivity and good will among the building occupants, resulting in greater ROI.
In today’s technological advanced era, relying on traditional building automation system is no longer sufficient. Advanced IoT technologies have greatly modernized the building automation system and taken it to a whole new level that gives you better control and management, reduced cost, increased efficiency, and improved comfort level. Connect with A-TECH Engineering – a leading building automation and controls service provider in Toronto to learn more and get custom solutions for your building.
Even though air pollution has been in the talks all over the world for decades, indoor air quality is still something that is not talked about or taken seriously enough. We tend to take the air we breathe for granted even though it is of grave importance and affects our day-to-day lives in a myriad of ways. Indoor air quality concerns are not something to be taken lightly. In addition, with the onset of covid-19 indoor air quality assessment has become even more important to ensure the safety of building occupants especially in the workplace as people spend a great amount of time at their work. In this article we delve into the importance of IAQ in the workplace and ways to improve air quality.
Indoor Air Quality in Workplace
Whether you have workers employed for a few hours or for a full day, it is important for them to be in a healthy environment. For some sensitive or immunocompromised people, working for a few minutes in a building with poor air quality can have serious effects. If the heating and cooling system in your workplace is outdated, then it is highly likely that you and your workers are breathing in years of pollutants or mold that has accumulated over time. It would definitely benefit you to get the air quality in your facility or building checked as indoor air quality does not only affect comfort of your workers but also the health and productivity of your staff, thus affecting your organization goal achievement.
How indoor air quality can affect your employees?
- Poor workplace indoor air quality can negatively impact upon the physical and mental health of your workers.
- If any of your workers suffer from asthma or allergies, poor air quality can worsen the symptoms.
- It can result in eye, nose, throat, lung irritation, headaches, dizziness, fatigue.
- In addition, medical problems from poor indoor air quality can include hypersensitivity pneumonitis, asthma, heart disease, flu and in extreme cases even cancer and others.
- It can also increase absenteeism of your employees from work due to health issues and reduce productivity.
- During covid-19, poor ventilation systems can increase spread and risk of transmission.
What causes poor indoor air quality in the workplace?
There are several factors that can contribute to poor indoor air quality in the workplace including:
- Inefficient, old, or improper functioning of the HVAC system.
- Error in building design, architecture, or construction flaws such as not adequate windows or openings.
- Tightly closed spaces with a high number of employees.
- Environmental pollutants such as dust, carbon monoxide, tobacco smoke due to poor ventilation systems.
- Chemical pollutants such as formaldehyde from pressed-wood furniture, plywood wall paneling; asbestos from insulation ceiling tiles, etc; VOC from cleaners and disinfectants, air fresheners, dry-cleaned clothes, etc.
- Building renovation projects such as painting and cleaning work that release pollutants into the environment.
- Improper disposal of garbage or storage of food products.
- Presence of mold, especially if high humidity or unaddressed water damage issues exist in the building.
How can you improve indoor air quality in your workplace?
Indoor air quality in the workplace is equally important to both the employers and employees. As a result, both have to take steps to ensure that the workplace is free from air pollutants and harmful contaminants. This will improve the working environment for the employees, boost confidence and productivity of the staff and give better results for the organization as a whole.
Here are some steps to alleviate poor IAQ in workplace –
- Find the contaminant sources of harmful chemicals and take the necessary steps to replace, contain, or eliminate them from the workplace. For example, if there is renovation work in a part of your building, make sure they are contained only in part of the workplace and not affecting your workers.
- Educate your employees on the sources and effects of pollutants and motivate them to take action or notify the management in case of hazardous exposure or health issues.
- Ensure that workplace premises are regularly cleaned and disinfected to minimize sickness.
- Install efficient ventilation systems to ensure the uninterrupted flow of fresh air throughout your workplace.
- Employ air-cleaning devices such as dehumidifiers and air purifiers in the workplace.
- Make sure air ducts and filters are regularly cleaned and replaced when they become obsolete.
- Perform routine maintenance of the HVAC system to ensure that it is functioning correctly. Hire professionals to evaluate and address poor IAQ issues at your workplace.
- Use advanced building automation systems such as HVAC monitoring app to monitor the performance and health of your HVAC system.
- If you are an employee who faces health issues only in the workplace notify your manager or concerned authority.
As an employer or a business owner, listen to your workers when they complain of health issues and take the necessary steps. It will not only alleviate the problem but also boost employee morale which is ultimately beneficial for your company as well as result in energy savings. The best approach is to use a multiple strategy such as use of air purifiers, HEPA air filters, regular cleaning and disinfecting of premises, maintenance of HVAC, proper workplace set up to ensure clean and healthy work environment. A-TECH Engineering Ltd. – a leading energy company based in Toronto aims to ensure high indoor air quality through unique and diverse strategies. Connect with us to know more about our zero-upfront cost indoor air quality monitoring program to help you reopen safely.
No matter which industry you belong to – whether it is an office building you run, a commercial retail shop you own or an industrial building, as a facility or building manager you must be aware of the role of having an efficient energy management system that ensures your building systems are operating smoothly at all times. It not only provides a sustainable solution for your business but also guarantees comfort of the occupants, thereby boosting productivity and improving your bottom line. This is why it is imperative that when considering energy management system, you pay ample attention to several factors such as ensuring the system is aligned to your business goals and invest in a system that helps you achieve them. In this article we delve into how having an energy management system can benefit your business in a sustainable and efficient way.
Energy Management System
Energy management systems used for buildings, also known as BEMS, refer to integrated building energy management and building automation systems. They combine the use of IoT, data analytics and other digital communication technologies to provide a holistic approach resulting in better control and optimization of the building system. The system may have multiple layers approach from various sensors connected to a unified interface. The goal is to enable data collection, analysis, trend monitoring and so on in order to provide smart and fast decision-making. Building energy management system can provide easy access to building automation systems from several platforms and various locations. Ultimately, the system enables an efficient and dynamic control of the indoor climate in a cost-effective way while ensuring the safety, comfort, and well-being of the building occupants. For an energy management system to be efficient and sustainable, it is imperative to consider the following areas:
Working towards the goal of reducing carbon footprint
Carbon footprint is defined as “the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions” that your building or facility releases into the environment in any one-year period. In today’s energy-conscious era, as a responsible business owner it becomes prudent for you to strive towards achieving better energy management, increasing sustainability, and reducing the impact of your organization on climate change – which is where the energy management system comes to play a significant role. By employing an efficient energy management system for your building, you can effortlessly monitor CO2 emissions and take preventive steps to minimize it, thereby contributing positively to reduce global warming.
Ensuring environmental friendliness
Apart from CO2 emissions, most commercial buildings are a major contributor to releasing other environment pollutants as they use an array of harmful chemicals in their day-to-day operations such as methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and so on. When you opt for a reliable energy management system, it also ensures the effective monitoring and controlling of these gases and ensures that your organization adheres to sustainable practices and promotes use of environment friendly processes.
Reducing energy bills
Investing in energy management system plays a significant role in keeping your operations costs from surging high. It is important that the energy management system you utilize is efficient and also one that does not compromise with the operation process. For instance, you might be thinking of investing in an effective ‘daylighting’ system that allows you to harness solar power with the potential for use in building lighting, which ultimately reduces your electricity consumption. In such cases, the use of a proper roofing system can also be a huge help to significantly lower energy consumption. A proper roofing system ensures an ideal temperature is maintained inside the facility and therefore can significantly contribute to efficient use of HVAC systems. Hence both the systems work synergistically to dramatically reduce the overall operational costs of your building.
Utilizing an efficient energy monitoring system
Since efficiency and savings are two major components of any energy management system, the application of energy monitoring system is not only reasonable but also ultimately necessary. Energy monitoring system not only helps to identify trends in energy use but also gives alerts of potential problems, reducing hassle and cost of major repairs of the building system. In addition, you should also ensure that your energy management system actually adheres to standard energy ratings such as LEED or Energy Star to ensure their efficacy.
More and more companies nowadays are implementing robust monitoring and assessment of energy consumption in their facility or building for reducing overall energy costs as well as optimizing efficiency and neither should you lag behind and get started with a qualified energy management services provider. Some companies like A-TECH Engineering offers free evaluation of energy or zero upfront cost to help you get started. Connect with an A-TECH team specialist today to find out more.
With COVID-19 pandemic still hovering over us, it is prudent to take preventive measures that minimize the spread of transmission of the disease. But sometimes even with the best of prevention tactics, there can be an outbreak of COVID-19 in your building or facility. This guideline offers to shed light on what to do after COVID-19 has been confirmed in your building. This entails notifying people who have been in close contact to the person who tested positive, reporting to Toronto Public Health or concerned Public Health authority of the outbreak, cleaning and disinfecting the premises, improving air quality and taking steps to minimize the spread of the coronavirus.
How is COVID-19 transmitted?
COVID-19 is transmitted from one person to another most commonly via respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, talking, or laughing during close contact of say within 2 meters. COVID-19 can be spread by infected individuals who have mild symptoms or no symptoms, i.e. asymptomatic. COVID-19 can also be transmitted through surface contact which is touching something that has the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.
Factors that increase risk of COVID-19 transmission include:
- Close contact
- Closed indoor spaces
- High traffic places
- Prolonged exposure
- Forceful exhalation
What to do once you get a report of someone with COVID-19 in the building?
Making informed decisions and notifying appropriate authority and contacts
When someone in your facility reports to you that they have tested COVID-19 positive, ensure that the individual’s identity remains protected. Have a system in place to handle the situation. For instance, dedicate a team or a HR member to interview the person by phone and ask them basic questions such as:
- When was the last time he or she was in the building?
- What was the first day of their symptoms?
- Were they diagnosed of COVID-19 through any test, if so what type?
- Find out names of people in your facility with whom they have been in close contact.
Ensure that the individual follows isolation guidelines to minimize the risk of transmission. Individuals should stay home even if the symptoms are mild or have only one symptom. They should only return to the workplace after isolation criteria have been met and have been in consultation with a healthcare provider. As per updated WHO guidelines, the isolation criteria is:
For symptomatic patients: 10 days after symptom onset, plus at least 3 additional days without symptoms, including without fever and without respiratory symptoms.
For asymptomatic cases: 10 days after positive test for COVID-19
When someone in your building has tested COVID-19, it is mandatory for you to notify people who have been in close contact with the individual that they were exposed to someone with COVID-19, while protecting the identity of the individual. You should have a quick method of notifying the contacts, for example through an email.
If you reside in Toronto, then Toronto Public Health also mandates you to notify them of two or more COVID-19 cases within a 14-day interval at your workplace premises.
- In addition, you should also have a designated person who can be contacted for any information or for implementing any measures by Toronto Public Health to minimize health risk of the community.
- Have access to accurate and updated contact information for all workers that can be given to Toronto Public Health within 24 hours of request for contact tracing requirements for COVID19.
- Notify the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development and other relevant government authorities in case of two or more COVID-19 cases within a 14-day interval in your building or facility.
- Cooperate with infection prevention and control personnel from Toronto Public Health, such as permitting entry into the building for assessment and preventive measures.
You may also have to consider closing down the building or facility. It will depend on multiple factors, such as how fast disinfection or cleaning can occur, the number of employees affected, and whether you deal with people who are at high risk of COVID-19 such as the senior population.
Cleaning and Disinfection
Employers or business owners should follow established processes for cleaning and disinfecting the building after someone in the facility has tested positive for COVID-19.
For instance, high-touch surfaces such as desks, phones, keypads, doorknobs, door handles, handrails, light switches, chairs, credit/debit machine, elevator buttons and so on should be thoroughly cleaned. Cleaning and disinfection should also be carried out in shared spaces within the building premises such as kitchen and washrooms.
Coronaviruses are said to be one of the easiest types of viruses that can be killed with an effective disinfectant. Usually cleaning with soap and water reduces germs on surfaces which plays a critical role in reducing the risk of spreading infection. When someone in your building has tested positive, it is imperative to thoroughly clean and disinfect the premises as well as high-touch surfaces.
Coronaviruses can be terminated effectively with an approved disinfectant solution. However, those solutions need to be used properly as stated on the label in order for the solution to be effective. For example, if a solution states that a wet contact time of 60 seconds is required the entire area needs to be evenly treated and left for 60 seconds prior to wiping. If not, the surfaces will not be properly disinfected. Surfaces such as computers, electronics, paperwork, carpets area generally left untreated unless disinfection services are completed by a certified infection control expert. In the event of a COVID-19 outbreak, it is imperative that a complete decontamination of the environment to mitigate the risk of transmission.
Air Quality and COVID-19
Since COVID-19 has been revealed to be an air-borne virus, indoor air quality needs to be monitored and improved in order to reduce the risk of transmission. Closed spaces with a large number of occupants and poor ventilation are high risk factors for COVID-19 transmission. Moreover, the virus can linger through the HVAC system when it recirculates into the building. This is why it is important to have the HVAC system draw air from outside and have clean air filters.
In addition to having an efficient HVAC system checked and maintained by a professional, it is also important to disinfect the HVAC system once someone has been infected with COVID-19 in the building before reopening. A-TECH Engineering – a leading HVAC contractor – provides a unique HVAC system cleaning process that can kill germs and microbes including COVID-19 via trusted partners. In addition, A-TECH Engineering also has tie-ups with one of the top disinfection companies in Toronto currently being used in healthcare facilities including ambulances where the entire disinfection process can be done in as quickly as 15 minutes, whereas before it used to take 4-5 hours.
Workplace safety and minimizing risk of COVID-19
- Prevention is better than cure. To ensure a safe workplace environment during this pandemic, as an employer or business owner, make sure your building is equipped with easily accessible hand sanitizer and hand wash at multiple points.
- Premises and high touch areas are cleaned and disinfected frequently.
- There is scope of physical distance of at least 2 meters. Implement physical barriers like plexiglass where necessary.
- Ensure air quality monitoring or HVAC monitoring to ensure the system is running efficiently.
- Automate building systems where possible to minimize surface touching such as lights, doors and so on.
During this difficult time, it falls on all of us to adjust to the new normal and do everything we can to reduce the spread or transmission of COVID-19. As an employer or business owner, ensuring a safe building or facility can not only save lives but also establish goodwill among your staff and clients. Connect with an A-TECH Engineering team member to ensure the safety of your building and occupants today.
