Collaboration secret to NABERS success

Fine tuning and collaboration secret to NABERS success

Precise Air’s Building Performance Optimisation team has successfully achieved a NABERS 5 Star Energy rating for Brookfield Global Integrated Solutions (Brookfield GIS) at the Headquarters of a large NSW agency. This was completed by fine tuning the building at low cost, in the process reducing electricity consumption by 20% and gas by 30% for the same period in the previous year.

“Our success with this 5 Star NABERS certification centres on our approach,” explained Wissam Salama, Precise Air’s Building Performance Optimisation Manager. “Our approach differs from most in that we take the time to learn and understand the building, working closely with the building management team to avoid unnecessary and costly upgrades to equipment.”

“We realise that over the years every building will change from its original design due to a range of issues…new and changing tenancy requirements, altered layouts, different maintenance providers and upgrades to equipment,” Wissam explained. “This all impacts on the efficiency of a building and takes it further away from its designed intent.”

“As we were not the incumbent service providers, we needed time to understand the building and its performance,” Wissam continued. “We took the equipment back to design intent, to more thoroughly analyse the capabilities of the existing systems. Then we started fine tuning the building, piece by piece. This helped avoid unnecessary expense in upgrading equipment.”

Initiatives included implementing seasonable deadbands and voting techniques at the terminal level, demand control and variable set points at the plants level, closely tuning thermal plants staging with demand control and variable set points reset, achieved by working closely with the BMS specialists. “Together we started changing the chiller strategies utilising the existing systems without any additional hardware or extra labour,” Wissam explained. “Changes were made to the chilled water system including, chiller lockout, chiller staging, capacity control and pressure control.”

Ultimately Precise Air was able to achieve the 5 Star rating without a Greenpower component and minimal financial outlay. “Our offering is based around solutions, not selling products,” explained Wissam. “Our ‘performance based service’ is focused on the end results, provides immediate ROI, reduces cost and saves energy.”

But the real secret to success was in the close collaboration and relationship that developed between Precise Air, Brookfield GIS’ technical and facility management teams, and Honeywell, the BMS provider.

“It was refreshing to work with suppliers who were focused on advising us, helping us and working with us to achieve this NABERS certification,” said Luke Ghosn, Brookfield GIS Account Manager. “We set Precise Air and our other suppliers the challenge of achieving this goal with minimal cost to our client and our business. Wissam and his team left no stone unturned, spending months interrogating systems, collaborating with our Facilities Management team, Business Support team and Honeywell to deliver certification with minimal expenditure. Right from the beginning they said they wanted to work in partnership with us,” Luke continued, “as part of our team…and that is exactly what we have achieved. An excellent result for all involved.”

“It was great working with such dedicated professionals who were keen to develop a deep level of trust,” Wissam continued. “Brookfield GIS’ team included assistance from the National Sustainability Manager Kristy Rogan, the Facility Management team of Natt Chamkunthod, Luke Ghosn and Adam Persic, and the National Technical Team. They supported our approach right from the start and were keen to listen to any suggestions we had.”

Any fine tuning exercise is dependent on the combination of the mechanical services with the building management controls systems. “Our skills in mechanical engineering and experience with BMS, along with Joseph Ross’ service skills were complemented by Honeywell’s BMS expert Keiran Long.”

For more information, please contact Wissam Salama, Building Performance Optimisation Manager on 1300 728 250