How does a BMS save energy?

Written by Cube Controls. Posted in Blog, Latest News

Are you looking for ways to save energy within your business? If you haven’t got a building management system in place, or you have one which is out-of-date, then installing a new BMS or upgrading your existing system may well be the solution.

A modern, well-programmed Building Management System will make your building more energy efficient by its very nature. It can adapt to seasonal changes, reducing or eliminating unnecessary use of energy to heat or air condition a building. It is even able to monitor footfall and ascertain whether or not heating or lighting is required in a specific area.

A modern building management system can also be flexible enough to adapt and evolve to suit the changes in building occupation, such as new tenants with different staffing numbers and environmental requirements. It can report on a building’s energy consumption over time, allowing you to monitor when and where changes can or need to be made.

For all of these reasons, installing a new or improving an existing building management system can provide a real return on your investment, particularly if you’re looking to achieve sustainability targets and save energy.

Ways in which a BMS can waste energy

We’ve established that actually having a BMS for your building can save energy, but did you know that if it is poorly maintained or becomes out-of-date this can lead to poor energy efficiency too?

Many outdated systems are no longer fit-for-purpose and can waste between 10-50% of the energy that they control. Reasons for this can include:

• Installation of an inappropriate building management system
• Poor or substandard installation
• Faulty or poorly placed sensors
• Settings not able to adapt to changes in building use
• Settings not able to adapt to changing technologies
• Poor levels of staff training
• Lack of maintenance

Even if you have a BMS which is fit-for-purpose, you may be surprised to know that most systems only utilise around 15 to 20% of their software capabilities, meaning there is a strong likelihood that you could achieve further energy savings.

A modern, up-to-date building management system will not only save energy and reduce your building’s emissions but lower costs too.

Further good news is that an expert BMS specialist can also develop a bespoke building management system to allow maximum cost effectiveness and energy efficiency, or advise on how to maximise the functionality of your existing BMSto achieve the same.

Speak to one of our BMS experts today for more details.

Get In Touch

Cube Controls is an established and experienced supplier of Building Management Systems, specialising in the design and set up of bespoke environmental and energy control programmes for commercial buildings and property.

To find out how Cube Controls can support you at all stages of design and consultancy, installation and modification and maintenance of your building management systems contact our expert and friendly team on 01903 694279 or sales@cubecontrols.co.uk.

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Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Is your Building Management System properly protected?

Written by Cube Controls. Posted in Blog, Latest News

This October marks the 20th annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month which explores ways to secure technology and protect business-critical infrastructures, helping to enable the safe use of technology and inform users on how to protect against cybercrime.

In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we are asking the critical question: Is your Building Management System properly protected?

Why BMS security is vital

A modern BMS is a wide-reaching digital system able to connect and control parts of your building and the services within it, from heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) to lighting, CCTV, visitor access and much more.

This connectivity helps your business to run more smoothly and efficiently, keep costs down and save energy. To meet the demands of a modern building, it can mean that these complex, interconnected systems need to also connect to the Internet and access cloud-based interfaces. But it is in this connectivity that danger lies.

As systems develop and become more connected, they can become more vulnerable to cyber criminals looking to access a building’s system, with the intention of causing havoc to operations. The smallest hack can have an impact on any business and new types of system vulnerabilities are being uncovered all the time.

As well as a hacker being able to gain unauthorised access to the day-to-day running of a building, the addition of IoT devices and sensors can increase the risk of cyber crimes, such as malware attacks, ransomware attacks and denial of service attacks, which can bring operations to a halt, costing businesses thousands in lost revenue.

Managing physical network access and BMS security correctly and having the right cybersecurity solutions in place for the early detection of threats is the way to tackle this threat.

How to keep systems safe

In order to gain the maximum cybersecurity for your BMS, it is important to ensure you are aware of all devices which have any connection to and communication with external devices. In addition, your BMS should be able to:

• Spot and troubleshoot for any cyber incidents or system failures
• Raise alerts for any security issues or maintenance needs
• Assess and prioritise risks
• Respond with appropriate action to any cybersecurity risk
• Quickly recover from a cybersecurity event
• Put measures in place to avoid repeat incidents
• Provide regular security updates

Our BMS security experts are always on-hand to support you with all your security needs, whether you need a BMS update or to incorporate additional security features.

Speak to a member of the team today about how we can create a cohesive approach to your cybersecurity and never be caught out by cyber crime again.

Get In Touch

Cube Controls is an established and experienced supplier of Building Management Systems, specialising in the design and set up of bespoke environmental and energy control programmes for commercial buildings and property.

To find out how Cube Controls can support you at all stages of design and consultancy, installation and modification and maintenance of your building management systems contact our expert and friendly team on 01903 694279 or sales@cubecontrols.co.uk.

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4 functions of a building management system

Written by Cube Controls. Posted in Blog, Latest News

The number one rule to ensure you select a building management system that will completely meet your needs is to thoroughly assess what you need or would like it to do. A BMS that suits one building might not quite hit the mark in another building, even if it is used in exactly the same way. Various factors are key to attaining the optimum building management system. These include the size of the building, the number of occupants and the day-to-day usage of different spaces, as well as the owner’s priorities as to where efficiency gains need to be made, such as saving energy and reducing costs. It is only by reviewing, assessing, understanding and prioritising these factors that you can be certain your new or improved BMS will meet your needs. And it may well be that an off-the-shelf system cannot meet all of them. However, experienced and expert building controls providers, such as Cube Controls, will be able to create bespoke systems using elements of leading systems from brands like Honeywell, Trend, Priva, Open System Solutions and others. Below we look at the key utilities and building functions that building management systems can control.

1. Building Management Systems For Lighting

There are several different types of BMS for lighting available, ranging from manually controlled systems to preset systems, which are set to the times when the building is in use. There are also SMART lighting controls, which use motion sensors and light detection technology to ascertain when and how much lighting is required. From the control of spotlights to dimmers and mood lighting, these SMART systems can go as far as to sense and interact with specific environments, users and other devices, to provide optimum e lighting.

2. Building Management Systems For Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

These types of building management systems can control and manage all kinds of heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems. They are able to adapt to the changing seasons, altering temperatures to ensure the comfort of building occupants, as well as monitoring air quality to optimise comfort, safety and wellbeing.

3. Building Management Systems For Plumbing and Electrical Systems

Gas heating systems, water quality, emergency sensors and electrical devices are just some of the services a building management system can test, manage and control, ensuring that all of your building’s plumbing and electrical systems are working as they should.

4. Building Management Systems For Security and CCTV

For most businesses, security is paramount and this applies to both physical security measures, such as CCTV to protect against criminal activity, and technological measures to protect against cyber crime. Having the right type of BMS ​​design will allow you to not only optimise your building’s security, but successfully firewall very sensitive elements of your IT systems, to prevent unauthorised access, snooping or malware, ransomware and Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. Get in touch with a member of our team today to talk through potential BMS designs and options to meet your needs, from energy efficiency to the integration of wireless technologies and system cyber-security. Cube Controls is an established and experienced supplier of Building Management Systems, specialising in the design and set up of bespoke environmental and energy control programmes for commercial buildings and property. To find out how Cube Controls can support you at all stages of design and consultancy, installation and modification and maintenance of your building management systems contact our expert and friendly team on 01903 694279 or sales@cubecontrols.co.uk.

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What Is A Building Management System?

Written by Cube Controls. Posted in Blog, Latest News

Building management systems are used throughout the world to help manage the day-to-day running of buildings of all shapes and sizes. These computer-based systems can monitor all types of building services and electrical and mechanical equipment, such as heating, lighting, ventilation, air conditioning and security.

There are several types of building management systems which can be used in a building and the type you choose depends on a series of factors, such as the size of your building, the size of your budget and what it is that you need your building management system to do.

The benefits of choosing the right building management system include the potential for the following:

• Cost efficiency
• Energy savings
• Protection against cyber security attacks
• Enhanced staff wellbeing and comfort
• Greater business productivity
• Improved reporting and information management

Cost savings and energy efficiency

Two of the biggest concerns for most businesses nowadays are cost savings and sustainability. They often come hand-in-hand because saving energy can also save on energy bills. Up-to-date, modern building management systems are programmed with energy efficiency in mind. This makes them an excellent contributor to achieving sustainability goals, while giving you every opportunity to keep your energy costs as manageable as possible.

Enhanced security

When a building management system is properly maintained, updated to the latest standards and managed well, it will be able to protect your business from cybersecurity attacks, such as malware, ransomware, Denial of Service (DoS) attacks, data breaches and cyber fraud.

In addition to being fully equipped to tackle cyber attacks from the moment it is installed, an up-to-date building management system will also be able to evolve in order to tackle most new cyber threats as and when they arise.

Happy staff = greater productivity

A little known aspect of a building management system is its adaptability. A BMS can change the temperature in a building according to the seasons and external weather conditions, identify whether an area is in use and therefore whether heating or air conditioning is required, and even monitor air quality to help protect occupants from airborne particles, including pathogens.

This adaptability improves occupant comfort, which can, in turn, improve productivity within most businesses. Meanwhile, reporting functions in modern building management systems also allow users to identify the potential for further changes and savings.

Why not ask a member of our team today about how we could find the right building management system for your business needs?

Cube Controls is an established and experienced supplier of Building Management Systems, specialising in the design and set up of bespoke environmental and energy control programmes for commercial buildings and property.

To find out how Cube Controls can support you at all stages of design and consultancy, installation and modification and maintenance of your building management systems contact our expert and friendly team on 01903 694279 or sales@cubecontrols.co.uk.

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Business Sustainability Goals – how your BMS can help

Written by Cube Controls. Posted in Blog, Latest News

As the climate crisis gathers pace, all over the world businesses are looking to ways to become more sustainable.

Sustainability within business means committing to practices that will not negatively impact the environment, communities or society as a whole. In many cases, business sustainability goals are also created to see where a positive impact can be made in these areas instead.

In addition to benefiting society and the environment, reasons to introduce sustainable practices within a business can include:

• enhancing the company’s reputation and/or brand image
• meeting customer expectations
• facilitating business growth and
• improving staff satisfaction, health and comfort

Sustainable practices can vary, depending on the type of business. For example, in manufacturing, a business may look to use materials, suppliers and processes which are more environmentally friendly. Meanwhile, a business which is office-based may implement recycling initiatives or use renewable energy sources.

One way in which businesses can improve their sustainability is by making changes to the building management system (BMS). Such changes can have a positive impact both on the environment and anyone who uses the building.

Meeting Business Sustainability Goals

Buildings and the construction sector combined are responsible for almost one-third of total global final energy consumption and nearly 15% of direct CO2 emissions. Both need to be addressed in order to achieve Net Zero by 2050, the international target of getting as close to zero carbon emissions as possible.

As it stands, many buildings aren’t on track to meet this target, but the implementation of sustainability goals, which include changes to building management systems, could turn this around.

By making it one of your business sustainability goals to assess your business’ energy use and upgrade to an efficient building management system, your building will be able to:

• Adapt to seasonal change
• Only use energy when and where it is required through the use of IoT smart sensors
• Reduce CO2 emissions by adapting quickly to changes which are difficult to predict
• Adapt and evolve with the changing needs of the business
• Monitor where energy efficient changes can be made
• Enhance building occupant comfort through improved air quality, comfortable temperatures and appropriate lighting
• Be maintained more easily with less manpower required
• Manage and control all of the building’s Occupant Technology (OT)

As well as reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions, which also present cost savings, a commitment to sustainability will make a business more attractive to potential employees, helping it to ensure it has the very best workforce possible.

Ask one of our building management system specialists about how making positive changes to your building management system could be an excellent way to meet your business sustainability goals. We look forward to hearing from you.

Cube Controls is an established and experienced supplier of Building Management Systems, specialising in the design and set up of bespoke environmental and energy control programmes for commercial buildings and property.

To find out how Cube Controls can support you at all stages of design and consultancy, installation and modification and maintenance of your building management systems contact our expert and friendly team on 01903 694279 or sales@cubecontrols.co.uk.

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Upgrading Your Building Management System – What You Need To Know

Written by Cube Controls. Posted in Blog, Latest News

There are many reasons why you may want, or indeed, need to upgrade your building management system (BMS). Old and outdated systems often use more energy, cost more to run, have inefficient security systems and do little to enhance the comfort of the building occupants. Chances are you haven’t got any 15 year old IT equipment in use within your building, so, in the same way, why would you expect efficiency and reliability from 15 year old BMS equipment?

Whether you are actively considering upgrading your BMS or it is something that you may do in the future, you may find it useful to know that just by making a few changes here and there, you could achieve significant energy and cost savings, not to mention improved security.

Among the many reasons to upgrade your building management system are:

• Improved security
• Reduced risk of failure
• Lower energy usage
• Lower energy costs
• Extended building lifespan
• Improved occupant comfort and productivity
• Easier environmental monitoring
• Less maintenance

What To Consider When Upgrading Your BMS

1. Needs and capabilities
   
   Carry out an assessment of what you need from your BMS. Different buildings are used for different purposes and this will affect the type of upgrade you require. An experienced BMS specialist should be able to talk you through the capabilities of your building, what the possibilities are and then plan and install a building management solution tailored to your needs.
   
   
2. Choose the right BMS service provider
   
   It’s important to find a BMS provider who will work hard to understand what’s really needed from your BMS upgrade, incorporating elements from various equipment ranges and manufacturers to provide a bespoke design.
   
   There is rarely an off-the-shelf solution when you’re looking for a BMS which will completely meet your needs. And there are often several alternatives to changing the whole system. On their own, these changes can make the system much more efficient over all.
   
   The right building management system should not only be able to meet your needs today, but long into the future, possessing the ability to monitor its own effectiveness and adapt to change, both technologically and environmentally without compromising on speed, performance and functionality.
   
   
3. Budget constraints
   
   When upgrading your building management system, it’s important to be aware of the costs involved and whether you have the required budget. Before work starts on upgrading your BMS, your service provider should be able to give you a breakdown of the costs and talk you through what will happen at every step.
   
   
4. Implementing the BMS upgrade
   
   By planning a phased upgrade of your building management system in advance, you can help to ensure it goes as smoothly as possible. The upgrade of a building management system can take place in stages. Not only will this allow you to spread the cost, but it will also help to minimise disruption and downtime for any businesses within the premises.
   
   

Cube Controls is an established and experienced supplier of Building Management Systems, specialising in the design and set up of bespoke environmental and energy control programmes for commercial buildings and property.

To find out how Cube Controls can support you at all stages of design and consultancy, installation and modification and maintenance of your building management systems contact our expert and friendly team on 01903 694279 or sales@cubecontrols.co.uk.

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4 Reasons to Modernise Your Building Management System

Written by Cube Controls. Posted in Blog, Latest News

As a building manager, you are no doubt aware of just how useful a building management system (BMS) can be. But did you know that it’s also vital that the system stays up-to-date with changes both within the building and the outside world?

A building management system can be used to simultaneously control mechanical and electrical equipment, including heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, power and security systems. In addition, it can data log a building’s environmental conditions and subsequent metering solutions.

Key features of any BMS system should include the following:

• Fault detection & diagnostics with insight
• Automated controls
• Comprehensive reporting
• User interface for mobile devices

However, it’s important to check that your building management system has also been programmed with your business needs in mind and is able to provide a continually evolving service which can keep up with the ever-changing times. Here we look at the reasons why modernising your building management system is key.

1. Protection from cyber attacks

As building management systems have become more complex, so they have become more vulnerable to cyber-attacks, and the nature of those attacks and the tools used to unleash them have become more sophisticated.

Making sure that your system is properly maintained, updated to the latest standards and managed well will give you the peace of mind that your BMS is protected from cybersecurity attacks, such as malware, ransomware, Denial of Service (DoS) attacks, data breaches and cyber fraud.

2. Enabling remote use

Being able to remotely operate your building management system has become more important in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which left many people working from home.

Remote operation of a building management system allows building managers and owners to respond quickly and adapt to any changes within the building (such as turning the heating off in unused rooms), at any time of the day or night. It’s vital that anyone who is using the controls is also fully trained on how to use them correctly.

3. Optimum occupant comfort

When a building management system has the flexibility to adapt to changing requirements it makes it easier to ensure the comfort of the occupants.

For example, temperature settings need to change throughout the year and air quality always needs to be at a level that is safe to breathe. The good news is that sensor arrays can be installed within commercial buildings to monitor air quality and general occupancy levels, and air volume management can be controlled.

By ensuring a comfortable working environment, you have every chance of increasing staff efficiency, making the building more appealing to potential tenants and helping businesses to meet their sustainability goals by reducing unnecessary energy use.

4. Making the most of energy saving

An out-of-date or underutilised BMS can be responsible for significant energy waste, making an unwelcome impact on your carbon footprint.

Building management systems are adapting to integrate with cloud-based environmental solutions to deliver a genuine reduction in energy usage, as well as logging the performance of your systems.

For building managers, reducing carbon production has never been so important and modern building management systems provide a range of powerful solutions to achieve that goal.

Cube Controls is at the forefront of integrating these systems. If you’d like to learn more about modernising your building management system, get in touch today.

Cube Controls is an established and experienced supplier of Building Management Systems, specialising in the design and set up of bespoke environmental and energy control programmes for commercial buildings and property.

To find out how Cube Controls can support you at all stages of design and consultancy, installation and modification and maintenance of your building management systems contact our expert and friendly team on 01903 694279 or sales@cubecontrols.co.uk.

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The pitfalls of choosing the wrong BMS provider

Written by Cube Controls. Posted in Blog, Latest News

Have you made the decision to invest in a Building Management System for your business or facility?

With pressure mounting to save energy in every possible way, both to help the environment and to save money, investing in a BMS system could be one of the best decisions you make.

In addition to energy saving, there is of course the fact that the right building management system can take control of many of the security and safety aspects of running your building, while maintaining the correct levels of heating and air quality to keep your occupants comfortable.

Perhaps you already have a building management system in place but are aware it could be doing more to save you energy. In which case, you could be looking for the right company to help you do this.

Whatever the reason behind your planned changes, it’s vital to find the right building management system provider, because the pitfalls of choosing the wrong one can end up causing you more harm than good.

THE PITFALLS OF THE WRONG BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PROVIDER

Getting the building management system that’s right for your business is achieved by working with a provider who will take the time to assess your needs and create the BMS which works best for you.

That means not only providing a solution based on equipment from leading BMS systems manufacturers but also the creation of hybrid systems to achieve the best overall result.

So often the wrong BMS provider will choose a ‘one-size-fits-all solution’ when really they should be taking elements from various equipment ranges and manufacturers to provide a bespoke design. This can so easily leave you with a system which is inefficient, or one which could be doing so much more. And all because it was easier to provide a standard system rather than put the work into making it bespoke.

The right building management systems should be able to adapt to change, both technologically and environmentally. An intelligent system can monitor its own effectiveness and make customised reports which are based on your individual goals while forecasting the need for change. It can also grow with your expanding business and technological advancements without compromising on speed, performance and functionality.

But, by choosing the wrong building management system provider you will have no guarantee that all of this will be taken into account.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PROVIDER?

A good BMS provider will assist you in making more informed operational decisions and help to fine-tune your approach to building management.

They will have energy efficiency at the forefront of their minds, reducing both your utility bills and your building’s footprint and will ensure your BMS is customisable to suit your needs, while taking into account the way your site is used.

Key features of your BMS system should include the following:

• Fault detection & diagnostics with insight
• Automated controls
• Comprehensive reporting
• User interface for mobile devices

When finding the right building management systems provider you should look for an industry leader who will understand your business needs and provide a continually evolving solution to keep up with the ever changing market.

Remember – so many companies only use a whopping 15% of their BMS capabilities – why not find an expert who can help it achieve so much more?

Cube Controls is an established and experienced supplier of Building Management Systems, specialising in the design and set up of bespoke environmental and energy control programmes for commercial buildings and property.

To find out how Cube Controls can support you at all stages of design and consultancy, installation and modification and maintenance of your building management systems contact our expert and friendly team on 01903 694279 or sales@cubecontrols.co.uk.

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Why a BMS should be part of your energy saving journey

Written by Cube Controls. Posted in Blog, Latest News

Are you looking for effective ways to save energy in your business?

With the world in the grip of a global warming crisis and the cost of energy soaring, it’s easy to see why companies are making every effort to become more sustainable. But did you know that a building management system can go a long way to helping you save energy?

Most BMS’ only utilise around 15% to 20% of their software capabilities, leaving a lot of scope for further energy savings that you probably were not aware that you had.

Buildings become more energy-efficient and therefore more cost-efficient when the correct and full extent of BMS technologies are being used. Getting to know what these are is an excellent way to make your BMS part of your energy saving journey and, in addition, it will help to ensure you are providing the most comfortable environment for occupants.

Increased energy and utility savings

A BMS offers the opportunity to maximise the effectiveness of smart building management systems and energy efficiency programmes. This can result in significant savings because the system has been developed to meet the building’s unique specifications.

Buildings will often have underperforming BMS’ which use up energy unnecessarily, either because their original control programming no longer aligns with current building usage, are using out-of-date technology or are being poorly maintained.

Even just by automating HVAC and lighting systems, for example, it is estimated that overall energy consumption could be reduced by up to 30%.

Building management systems can be programmed to identify areas where energy is not required, for example, and then only heat and light those parts of a building as and when they are in use. Corporate events, such as business meetings and seminars, can be scheduled into the system to ensure a room or rooms are heated up before and during the event and then turned off, once the area is vacated.

Where possible, Cube Controls uses a wider array of environmental IoT sensors to increase the capabilities of more standard designs. Such sensors would include Smart Occupancy Detection that can monitor down to a level of individual desk spaces if so required, which can lead to energy management based on whether the building spaces are occupied, changes in seasonality and forecast weather conditions.

Getting the right BMS fit for your business

We believe that it is our responsibility to promote smarter, more energy-efficient systems by educating clients to the benefits and possibilities wherever we can.

There are many effective energy efficiency routines available in the Building Management System industry and we will always look to take the time to ensure the right fit for each individual building that we work with.

Why not ask us directly about the options which are already available from your existing BMS?

If you’d like to learn more about how to get the most energy saving efficiency out of your building management system, get in touch today.

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Why employ an energy saving company when your BMS can already do that?

Written by Cube Controls. Posted in Blog, Latest News

Energy saving and sustainability have become increasingly hot topics in recent years, as businesses and individuals have grown more concerned about the impacts of global warming and the need for climate change.

The current energy crisis and cost increases being experienced throughout the UK have only heightened the demand for energy saving measures, and, as such, many businesses are turning to energy companies or ‘so-called’ sustainability experts, to find savings and reductions.

However, those in the know about the true potential of an existing building management system (BMS) have observed that this may not be the most beneficial, or cost effective solution.

Recent experiences have shown us that the actual knowledge and capabilities delivered by energy saving companies can be not all that they profess to be. These companies often choose to ignore the existing BMS that a business has installed and the powerful benefits it can deliver.

The fact is that most BMS systems only utilise around 15% – 20% of their software capabilities. It means there is a wide range of untapped possibilities available, especially when it comes to energy savings – so why not make use of them all?

The pitfalls of paying for an energy saving company

If you have decided to use an energy saving company, make the relevant checks first to ensure you don’t encounter the common pitfalls which mean an avoidable financial loss.

Many of these projects end up with energy savings experts suggesting changes to the BMS operation to provide savings, yet this can be done so much more simply, by cutting out the middleman and going directly to a BMS energy expert.

Most BMS systems (even older ones) have powerful software tools that can be employed to provide energy savings for a client. In a typical building, around 40% of your overall energy bill is spent on heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems – and your BMS is the system that decides how to spend it for you.

A talk with a knowledgeable BMS company that has experience in energy savings adaptations should be your first port of call when looking to increase your building efficiency and make savings.

They can also suggest other companies they have worked with in introducing systems such as Solar and Air Source Heat Pump technologies to provide further savings, as well as being able to inform you of whether any government grants are available to assist with these adaptations.

Get in touch and find out more about what we do

All too often we find businesses are paying for a service which is just not necessary. If you are looking to make energy savings for your business, why not ask us directly about the options which are already available from your existing BMS?

If you’d like to learn more about how to get the most energy saving efficiency out of your building management system, get in touch today.

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