BAS Has an Important Role with Demand Response
September 18, 2009
A demand response program is an opportunity for a facility to reduce electricity costs. In a demand response program, a facility gets paid for reducing energy use when asked to do so by a utility. The programs kick in when demand on the grid approaches capacity or when wholesale power prices get very high.
There are plenty of ways that a facility can reduce its demand without having a dramatic impact on operations or comfort. The trick is to shave a little energy here and a little there, rather than making larger changes that might have a big impact on building occupants.
Enter the building automation system. It’s the perfect tool for implementing the small changes that can trim energy use enough to meet demand response goals. For example, the BAS can allow temperatures to rise a degree or two, or dim lights slightly. The number of demand response steps that can be automated through the BAS depends, of course, on which building systems are integrated and how the BAS is programmed.
For facilities that have aging building automation systems and that aren’t taking advantage of demand response programs, the savings offered by demand response can be one more factor to help justify a BAS upgrade.
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