Energy efficiency in buildings
The building sector, particularly in large-scale corporate, commercial, healthcare, and residential buildings, has an intensive and diversified energy profile, where HVAC, lighting, domestic hot water production, and auxiliary services account for most of the total energy consumption. Among these, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) typically represent between 40% and 60% of the total energy use, making them the primary target for optimization opportunities.
In HVAC systems, the adoption of VRV (Variable Refrigerant Volume) technology is progressively replacing traditional chilled water or direct expansion systems, due to its higher efficiency and greater flexibility to modulate the load according to the actual demand of each space. These systems can significantly reduce electricity consumption and improve thermal comfort, especially when integrated with occupancy, ambient temperature, and natural light sensors, which prevent unnecessary operation of units in unoccupied areas or during non-operating hours.
Even in buildings that maintain conventional HVAC systems such as rooftops, chillers, or fan coil units, there are significant optimization opportunities without the need to replace equipment. The integration of temperature, occupancy, and air quality sensors, along with automation and centralized control through BMS or IoT solutions, enables adjusting setpoints based on external and internal conditions, scheduling complete shutdowns during non-operating hours, and prioritizing chiller operation at the highest possible supply temperature within comfort ranges, which significantly reduces electrical consumption. The incorporation of variable frequency drives (VFD) in chilled water pumps and fans is key to adapting motor speed to instantaneous demand, generating savings on the order of 20% to 40% in these systems.
For domestic hot water generation, high-efficiency heat pumps have established themselves as a sustainable alternative to replace natural gas boilers and water heaters. These systems, which capture thermal energy from the environment or water circuits, can achieve coefficients of performance (COP) above 3, significantly reducing fossil fuel consumption and associated emissions.
In buildings with high thermal demand, the integration of solar water heaters complements hot water production, reducing the load on mechanical systems and making use of renewable resources.
Regarding lighting, although the migration to LED technology is widely adopted, additional opportunities remain through zonal automation, presence sensors, and dimming systems that adjust artificial lighting based on occupancy and natural light contribution. These strategies not only reduce consumption but also improve visual comfort conditions and extend equipment lifespan.
The building envelope plays a decisive role in overall energy efficiency. Improving insulation of walls, roofs, and floors, along with installing double-glazed windows with solar control (DGUs), helps reduce the total thermal load and minimizes energy demand for HVAC. Likewise, proper design of eaves, sunshades, and passive solar control devices promotes the use of solar radiation in winter and limits its entry in summer, naturally optimizing the building’s thermal performance.
The integration of automation and control systems—whether through BMS or IoT solutions—is key to maximizing operational efficiency. These systems enable real-time monitoring of electrical and thermal consumption, detection of deviations, automated switching on and off of equipment based on schedules and environmental conditions, and optimization of HVAC, lighting, and pumping operations. This not only improves overall energy performance but also allows for decision-making based on reliable information, reduces operational costs, and extends the lifespan of the installations.
En conjunto, la aplicación de estas estrategias permite reducir de manera significativa el consumo de energía en edificios, mejorar las condiciones de confort interior, disminuir los costos de operación y reducir la huella de carbono asociada, en línea con las crecientes exigencias normativas, ambientales y de competitividad que enfrenta hoy el sector edilicio.
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