Technology + behavioural change = successful energy management
April 1st 2009

Lisa Wilkinson, director of t-mac Technologies, designers and manufactures of energy management and building management systems, looks at how behavioural change is essential to energy management, as well as vital to accessing the full capabilities of energy saving technology

Behavioural change is a subject matter often associated with the psychology of health, education and criminology but when taken out of its normal context and applied to business it is apparent there are a host of industries which can benefit from serious consideration of how behavioural change can benefit other areas.

Energy management is a prime example. Behavioural actions are one of the root causes of increasing energy use and if amended could help make a significant dent in the Government's energy saving targets.

Following Government's agreement to a legally binding pledge to reduce the UK's CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050, this is an area in which behavioural change could significantly help reduce impact on the environment.

Behavioural change is not only about raising awareness but it is also about successful up-take of change i.e.people actually putting the practices into action; something which is not always as straight forward as it may initially seem. For instance,we all know we should turn off the lights in our home and office at the end of the day, but this doesn't necessarily mean we are going to do it, so how can behavioural change help reduce our carbon footprint? Recent advances in technology designed to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions have made a vast difference to the UK's carbon footprint but we need to make sure they are used to their full potential to meet targets. Without full buy-in and maintained input from users, technology can, in effect, become fruitless.

Modern building management systems like t-mac go a step further towards independent energy control by not only monitoring energy use – of utilities such as lighting and heating and equipment such as air conditioning units and office equipment – but by also having the added function of remote and automatic control.

Although this type of technology can in effect work by itself, systems should 'showcase' and 'educate' users and occupiers. Systems like t-mac, provide showcasing opportunities through online software, providing insight to all users and occupiers of the building's energy management and reduction activities.

By educating users and occupiers (not just energy managers) as to energy improvements and saving opportunities, businesses can gain buy-in from stakeholders; enabling them to see and understand the value of the system and also see where they too can help business achieve carbon reduction. This ultimately improves the longevity of energy improvement strategies within the business.

Mass level To be truly effective behavioural change needs to be for everyone.

One person alone can indeed make a small difference, but on a larger scale it is impossible for one person to monitor and control everything at all times. For example, people often forget they have adjusted the heating, whilst others open windows to cool down but if they were more aware of energy management systems and behaviour adapted to take into account the impact of their actions the savings made would be much more substantial.

Technology is an essential element to energy control and intelligent buildings; by allowing managers to monitor, manage and control energy consumption from one point they can gain round-theclock information, from single to multiple sites, which can be accessed via the internet from anywhere in the world, but what makes them so impressive is the people who ultimately,make it happen.

Human interaction, viewing energy saving activities and being educated on opportunities is essential to make these systems work to their full potential – you can set the system once and leave it to work but it won't make the most out of the equipment; continuous reevaluation and education on the practices and savings which can be made is the solution, to well controlled and maintained energy management.

Technogy is set correctly can control The control function on a t-mac building management system allows users to pre-set conditions to be appropriate to requirements, for example, users can programme lighting to come on at suitable times to opening hours or even set limits so heating does not exceed a pre-agreed level.

In addition, if heating does exceed pre-set levels users are alerted to problems via text or email enabling them to rectify the problem either through GPRS technology online or on-site if convenient; controlling the issue before it escalates in size, time and expense. Alternatively other equipment can be programmed to come into effect to regulate temperature, for example, air conditioning can be programmed to come on when heat levels become too high; in essence the systems can implement change of its own accord.

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