Impact of effective BEMS control strategy examined

In an article written as part of his thesis for a BSc Degree in Electrical Services & Energy Management at the Dublin Institute of Technology, recently elected IHEEM member, Stuart Dunne, who is assistant director of Estates at the city’s Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, discusses whether – really effectively deployed – building energy management systems can increase efficiency and minimise energy consumption within a healthcare facility, as well as making a major impact on bottom line.

Hospitals are among the most vigorous energy users in Ireland. With healthcare budget cuts occurring annually, energy management within the healthcare sector has developed and evolved to deliver quality patient care more economically. This paper investigates the potential of a building energy management system (BEMS), with respect to the ventilation systems within the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin. 

The Mater Hospital provides 24-hour service 365 days a year, resulting in substantial building energy consumption costs. This paper demonstrates how data recovered via the BEMS can be manipulated to give the client knowledge regarding the energy performance of specific services within the hospital. An effective BEMS is a necessary tool to monitor, identify, and deliver energy conservation measures within healthcare facilities. This can be achieved without having an impact on the comfort or quality of patient care.