The way commercial office buildings are used has changed considerably in recent years. For many organisations, hybrid working means occupancy can vary significantly between different days of the week.

An office may be busy on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but considerably quieter on Mondays and Fridays. Meeting rooms, individual floors and shared spaces may also experience very different levels of use throughout the day.

These changing patterns can create challenges for heating, cooling and ventilation systems, particularly when building controls are still operating according to traditional fixed schedules.

A Building Energy Management System can help facilities teams adapt to these changing requirements.

Moving Beyond Fixed Operating Schedules

Many commercial buildings have historically operated around predictable working hours, with heating and ventilation starting each morning and switching off in the evening.

However, hybrid working can mean that different areas are occupied at different times.

A BEMS allows schedules to be reviewed and adjusted to better reflect how spaces are being used.

Rather than automatically operating every area of a building in the same way, facilities teams can introduce more appropriate schedules for individual zones where the building’s systems allow.

Managing Different Occupancy Levels

Occupancy can have a significant influence on the heating, cooling and ventilation requirements of a space.

A meeting room occupied by ten people will have different requirements from one that remains empty for most of the day.

Where suitable sensors and control strategies are installed, a BEMS can use information such as occupancy or CO2 levels to help adjust building services in response to demand.

This can help maintain comfortable conditions while reducing unnecessary operation in areas experiencing lower usage.

Understanding How the Building Is Actually Used

BEMS monitoring and trend data can provide facilities teams with valuable information about system operation.

By reviewing temperatures, equipment runtimes, schedules and other available data, building operators can identify areas where services may be operating unnecessarily.

This information can support adjustments to control strategies as working patterns continue to develop.

Maintaining Comfort for Those in the Building

Reducing energy consumption shouldn’t come at the expense of the people who are using the building.

Even on quieter days, occupied spaces still need appropriate heating, cooling and ventilation.

An effective BEMS strategy should balance energy efficiency with occupant comfort, ensuring building services remain available where and when they are needed.

Adapting BEMS to Modern Working Patterns

A building’s operating requirements aren’t necessarily the same as they were when its BEMS was first installed.

At Concord, we help clients review and optimise control strategies to reflect changing occupancy patterns and operational needs.

By adapting schedules, reviewing system performance and making better use of available building data, facilities teams can ensure their BEMS continues to support the way their building is actually being used.

If you’re looking to adapt your BEMS to changing building occupancy and operational requirements, please contact our team.