Seven inhibitors that hold you back from being successful in implementing a fully optimised building management system.
By Martin Vahi
There are so many hurdles and complications we create for ourselves whilst trying to fix a myriad of problems in our everyday work. It is understandable because we are not experts in everything and we also don’t have to be.
The more we look around us the more we recognise everything is much more connected than it has ever been. Nature of work is becoming more transversal. The days of specialists are over, systems are doing this part of the job for us. The real value of your work is in leveraging partnerships and working together more effectively as a result.
Below I have listed seven typical areas that can hold you back from finding the right solution for you:
1. Finances for the investment
Take a look at the investment scope and payback time. If the investment time is less than 5 years for the building management system (BMS) upgrade it is worth doing. If you don’t have money to finance it by yourself, you can find lease options. If you invest in BMS for example, banks are looking very positively on those kinds of upgrades. You can finance your monthly payments from the saved energy. Upgrading your BMS means that the building value can increase by at least 7%.
2. Time
Building managers have very busy schedules, and it is hard to make time to do the research to find the best solution. While doing BMS upgrades, at Enerbrain we also talk about direct energy savings which are calculated into money. It helps to understand better the value of the results we achieve together. Additionally, though hard to measure, you save a lot of time for your building managers once the system upgrade has been made. This helps them to find more time for things where they are needed the most.
3. Partner
By now we all are familiar with online shopping. Some of the shops have a pick-up station where you can grab your package without the extra delivery fee. But most of the time, we have shopping delivered to our homes with our online store’s partner transportation company. The same is true for all of the services you need in your building. We are partnering with other companies in our everyday life and are set up in a way which makes the whole partnership work effortlessly. A BMS upgrade is also something that you should put in the hands of experienced professionals and companies who work together with vetted and trusted partners who can guide and advise you throughout the project and thereafter.
4. Trust
How can you be sure with all the sales talk and noise who can really make your building smart? Some promise savings between 20-40%, but how will they prove it and also ensure they won’t damage the existing system? How can they ensure that while they achieve energy savings, they also optimise for indoor air quality and comfort? These questions are important and you should get clear answers to those questions from your potential partners, to build up the trust.
5. Data
We have to understand that data is needed because we can make better estimations, conclusions and decisions if they are based on data analysis. We can start with a very simple analysis by looking at energy bills and the size of the building and we can see how much is the consumption of energy per square meter. One of our clients has more than 1600 office spaces they rent. Based on this basic analysis we can understand where the pain points from where we can start with the deeper investigation.
6. Fear of failure
Probably the biggest and the strongest inhibitor, which stops us doing great things. The best way to deal with fear is if you face it and deal with your pain. Name it differently, call failure a lesson learned and experience gained.
7. Taking action
The first step is always the hardest to take. Start moving towards the desired direction step by step and believe me you will get there.
Being in a shelter in your cave may sound safe for now, but ask yourself whether it is sustainable and what effect it has in the long run. To support yourself and the company you work for to stay competitive, you should always look around for solutions, new technologies and how you can implement them into your business.
Take the lead in steering your building towards a sustainable future.