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THE NEXT STEP IN CUTTING UTILITY COSTS information about who is scheduled to use various rooms. Integrating Building Controls In addition, engineers are integrat- ing many of today's building automation systems (BASs), making it possible to coordinate and control the use of energy and water more precisely using a laptop and a browser. "An integrated BAS uses advanced methods to communicate with disparate systems," says Petty. "For instance, a system might use open communication control protocols such as BACnet (the Building Automation and Control network open protocol communication standard developed by ASHRAE)." "Another approach to integration is to use one automation system provider that installs their own proprietary (instead of open) controls on all of the equipment and ties everything into their front end system," says Tim Lehman, mechanical discipline director with Celina, OH-based Fanning Howey, an architectural fi rm specializing in educational design. "That's how Siemens and Johnson Controls inte- grate building systems." Integration makes it easier to use the building controls to keep the indoor environment comfortable. It also makes it easier to confuse the systems and get everything out of whack. Oops Suppose a professor calls the campus facilities offi ce to complain that it is too warm in the lecture hall where she is hold- ing today's classes. The technician who takes the call logs on to the BAS system and sets the heat in that hall down from 75°F to 72°F. The professor doesn't complain any- more, and the technician forgets about it. The technician has just raised the possibility of wasting hundreds or maybe thousands of dollars in energy costs. As a technician, he knew that the heat- ing and cooling systems in that building each have a degree set point and two degree WE'VE GOT THIS UNDER CONTROL. Building automation systems (BAS) offer online monitoring and control points of building systems, including HVAC and chiller systems, through a single communication interface. In combination with building commissioning, a BAS is increasingly recognized as a benefi cial, cost-effective process to ensure optimal building performance, reduce energy use, and improve indoor air quality, occupant comfort, and productivity. control points. He knew that the cooling system has a set point of 70°F and control points of 68°F and 72°F. When the tem- perature rises to 72°F, the air conditioning comes on. He also knew that the heating system has two degree control points and used to have a 75°F set point. So when the tempera- ture drops to 73°F, the heat comes on. But he changed the nicely functioning system when he changed the set point for the heat to 72°F. Now when the tempera- ture goes down to 72°F, the heat goes on. 24 COLLEGE PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / NOVEMBER 2012 And so does the air conditioning. It's okay to make a temporary change, but you must remember to change it back. Now, for the next couple of weeks or maybe months — until someone notices — the heat and air conditioning will run simulta- neously, raising utility costs. Commissioning to the Rescue While commissioning is relatively new to colleges and universities, one of the seminal studies of commissioning proved the con- cept's value using a portfolio of 24 buildings WWW.PLANNING4EDUCATION.COM IMAGES COURTESY OF SYSKA HENNESSY GROUP, INC.