The operation of building mechanical systems is a critical activity in terms of optimizing the building’s energy consumption (and, hence, reducing costs), ensuring the occupants’ comfort, and preserving air quality. The operation of these systems in most of the 430,000 commercial and institutional buildings in Canada is suboptimal, resulting in energy losses of 15% to 30% and, consequently, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. One example of the deficient operation of mechanical systems is the simultaneous use of air conditioning and heating systems.
CETC–Varennes is developing software programs that, when installed in parallel with a building central control system, will permit automated operation of the building’s mechanical systems. For example, these
intelligent building technologies make it possible to reduce the building’s energy consumption, while maintaining air quality and ensuring occupant comfort. The technologies are based on the use of artificial intelligence algorithms (expert systems, neural networks, case-based reasoning) and statistics. The building is made to reason like an expert to avert occupant discomfort, deterioration in equipment performance, and failure in system components.
The technologies are developed in the software program, Diagnostic Agent for Building Operators (DABO), and are aimed at the automation of:
The development and deployment of the above technologies are described in the
Intelligent Building Operating Technologies business case document (PDF, 541 KB).
