2 minute read
Eliminating waste
Better monitoring of building systems offers increased oversight along with the opportunity to optimise performance and boost efficiency in the face of spiralling operating costs, writes Kevin Devine, Sales Director, Xylem Water Solutions Ireland.
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The latest digital solutions empower building owners to upgrade existing systems by retrofitting new high-tech instruments to save time and money on energy and maintenance bills. The timing is apt. Not only are energy prices at a record high, but the SEAI renovation grant scheme of up to 30,000 is boosting the refurb market even further. A 2021 survey showed that some 1.5m homeowners spent a total of more than 11 billion the previous year on home improvements.
Capable of monitoring and controlling everything from temperature to water pressure, automated systems help enhance each building system to function more efficiently. As they can be retrofitted to existing systems as full or partial replacements, as well as implemented in new systems, fully-optimised systems are for the first time within reach for aging building stock, as well as in new buildings.
Take back control
The latest digital solutions comprise three levels – intelligent equipment, smart networks and advanced analytics. • Intelligent equipment, such as variable speed controllers, alters pump speed to suit demand, and responds to changes in the environment to significantly reduce energy usage. More accurate monitoring of critical technology enables reactive optimisation by allowing issues to be more rapidly identified; • Smart networks and services collect data from connected locations. This makes the remote monitoring of operations possible and helps to proactively manage assets by highlighting incipient issues. This delivers substantial improvements in resilience and lower maintenance costs; • Advanced data analytics provide optimal control and convert the collected data into targeted information that allows system optimisation. The intelligence provided means maintenance needs can be anticipated and addressed well in advance of costly failures.
Get connected
In addition to these developments, connecting smart systems to cloud-based digital services provides a comprehensive overview of asset health that can be monitored from anywhere. The latest tools offer real-time status reporting and this in-depth insight helps cut maintenance costs by up to 27%.
By adjusting performance to suit operating conditions in real time, the most up-todate integrated wastewater pumps can reduce energy demand by up to 70%. Xylem’s unique Flygt Concertor reduced energy consumption by 53% at Heathrow Airport. It also eliminated the need for maintenance call-outs to the pumping station.
Greater efficiency
There is huge scope to benefit from the developments in digital solutions as they offer total reliability and help tackle current soaring energy costs and reduce maintenance needs. By harnessing the data available, buildings can be made to work smarter and perform more efficiently by way of ongoing automatic adjustments.
For more information on water technology solutions across the lifecycle of use, please visit Xylem Water Solutions at https://www.xylem.com/en-ie/
References
1. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/ construction/irish-homeowners-spent-11bn-onrenovations-in-past-year-researchshows-1.4625641 2 https://www.xylem.com/siteassets/support/ case-studies/case-studies-pdf/xylems-flygtexperior-halves-energy-use-at-heathrowpumping-station-1872.pdf
