ENER-G Building Controls Innovation Shortlisted For Industry Award

Online, April 19, 2013 (Newswire.com) - ENER-G Controls' E-MAGINE Building Energy Management System (BEMS) has been shortlisted for a Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) Award.

E-MAGINE is a finalist in the Technical Innovation of the Year (product) category, sponsored by Modern Building Services.

The award winner will be announced on Thursday 9 May 2013 following assessment by an independent judging panel comprising experts from BCIA, The Building and Engineering Services Association (B&ES), Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), built environment experts BSRIA, Reading University and independent engineering experts.

E-MAGINE is a cloud-based energy control system that provides a scalable, integrated control system to reduce energy consumption in buildings by up to 30%. Through open protocols it can integrate with existing back-office systems and third-party building control systems and equipment.

A key component of E-MAGINE is an integrated front-end energy management tool called E-VISION. This is aimed at designers, installers and end-users to help them design, commission, control, analyse and manage energy use remotely. It can be used for a broad range of applications from boilers and chillers to fan coils, domestic hot water and air filtration.

Typical return on investment ranges from 12 to 60 months, but ENER-G can finance the E-MAGINE technology under a guaranteed savings agreement to provide organisations with immediate cost and carbon saving benefits on a pay-as-you-save basis.

ENER-G Controls specialises in the energy management of buildings and offers an end-to-end energy management service - from initial feasibility assessments, to full design, installation, commissioning and after-sales support.

Many organisations overlook Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) in their energy efficiency plans because of the false belief that they are an expensive technology for big business that are complex and costly to specify, install, operate and maintain. BEMS are one of the quickest and most effective methods of driving down energy cost and consumption.

E-MAGINE overcomes three major system flaws that prevent many building energy management systems from delivering their projected cost and carbon savings over their lifetime.

Firstly, it is pre-configured to recognised standards for control strategies, without compromising flexibility, so it avoids the usual deviations in system performance caused by inconsistent programming. By defining the system prior to installation, customers benefit from control strategies that are repeatable and not reliant on an individual engineer's programming skills. This also generates faster, lower cost commissioning.

A second classic flaw in BEMS is that over time various users adjust the settings and gradually erode the energy efficiency benefits that the BEMS was designed for in the first place. E-MAGINE locks-in optimal settings, so that the BEMS achieves peak performance throughout its lifetime.

The third, and often hidden, problem addressed by E-MAGINE is the inevitable issue of hardware and software deterioration. Critical parts of any BEMS hardware and software will require servicing or maintenance over the system lifetime. For example, temperature sensors deteriorate and fall outside their calibration accuracy, or simply become broken or damaged. Control dampers and valves may be impaired due to age or wear, while temperature dead bands can often require maintenance.

Using E-MAGINE's online diagnostic tools, system performance can be continuously monitored. This will quickly identify system malfunctions and automatically refine control strategies to restore optimum operation.

Further information: www.energ.co.uk/controls