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Problem Addressed

How to achieve net zero carbon buildings, energy optimisation and health and wellbeing of building occupants

Solution Overview

TheÌýarbncoÌýbuilding performance platformÌýhelpsÌýbusinesses to measure,Ìýanalyse and improve energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality, which makes for healthier buildings and occupants, now more important than ever to businesses worldwide. Through aÌýcombination ofÌýthe two key areas ofÌýtheÌýsoftware –ÌýenergyÌýoptimisation and health and wellbeing – itÌýallowsÌýbuilding owners and occupiers to integrate data sets to obtain a holistic understanding of building performance and maximise opportunities toÌýreduce energy and carbon.

TheÌýenergy platformÌýprovides a single source for managing energy performance and compliance across large and diverse property portfolios. It centralises large data sets for continuous monitoring and delivers bespoke retrofit strategies toÌýreduce building energy andÌýlead buildings to a net zero carbon pathway.

TheÌýhealth and wellbeing platformÌýseeks to resolve the dilemma that many engineers and architects faceÌý–ÌýensuringÌýeffectiveÌýbuildingÌýperformanceÌýwhen aiming toÌýcreateÌýwell-ventilated,Ìýcomfortable, energy-efficient, and well-maintained buildings.Ìýarbnco’sÌýplatformÌýbringsÌýclarity to the conditions and experience of inhabiting the built environment, and high-resolution IoT sensing to HVAC controls.

arbnco provides the platform and tools for commercial organisations to collect, verify and bring real insight to their building energy and workplace wellness data.ÌýTheÌýenergy optimisation platform provides:

  • ‘No-touch’ energy performance analytics for a single building or a 100,000+ building commercialÌýportfolioÌý
  • Proprietary smart-meter interval data-driven machine learning algorithms performingÌýend-use disaggregation to accurately identify specific opportunities forÌýimprovementÌý
  • Daily load-profiles and occupancy patterns providingÌýinsight into the difference between base load energy usage and ‘wastage’ – excess energy consumption during offÌýhoursÌý
  • Targeted energy conservation measures providingÌýboth savings potential and region-specific costÌýestimatesÌý
  • Portfolio-wide screening, targeting and reporting providingÌýaggregate visibility of performance improvementÌýopportunitiesÌý
  • Site-specific renewables potential and storage recommendations based on detailed load profiling and demand reductionÌýopportunitiesÌý

ÌýTheÌýhealth and wellbeingÌýplatform provides real-time monitoring of the effects of the indoor environment on health andÌýwellbeing, andÌýenables organisations to understand how the quality of their real estate affects occupant satisfaction and productivity.Ìý

The platform gathers both qualitative and quantitative data, allowing for a full assessment of human experience. High quality indoor sensors provide ubiquitous monitoring of indoor environmental conditions, such as carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, temperature and humidity. This is combined with occupant engagement to gather feedback on how they feel the building is performing in human terms.Ìý

Through data collection and occupant feedback,Ìýthe platform supports other green building certification and reporting standardsÌýincluding:ÌýLEED, BREEAM, WELL, Fitwel, and RESET.Ìý

Overall,Ìýthe combination ofÌýtheÌýenergy optimisation and health and wellbeingÌýplatformsÌýallowsÌýbusinesses to optimise their property portfolios to operate as cost effective, intelligent green buildings.Ìý

arbnco’sÌýbuilding performance softwareÌýplatformÌýis based on a Software as a Service model with annual subscription fees.ÌýÌý

OnÌýtheÌýenergy side,Ìýthe solution cost per building is from 10’s to small hundreds of pounds, but that typically would identify energy saving opportunities for the building. These vary from zero cost behavioural measures to larger capex initiatives with a quantified return on investment. Typically for UK properties we see energy and carbon reduction scope of between 10 and 40% of current performance.Ìý

ForÌýtheÌýhealth and wellbeing platform, small gains in productivity and satisfaction for staff will outweigh the cost of the system.  Investment is both a smallÌýupfrontÌýpayment for sensors and an annual license for the software and reporting. The benefits of staff safety, reassurance, and comfortable working conditions are difficult to quantify but demonstrably real.Ìý

Case Study

arbnco, partnered with ArcÌýSkoruÌýInc.,Ìýworked with Schneider Electric in theirÌýstate-of-the-art technology centre, The Technopole, in Grenoble, France to achieve a high scoring inÌýtheÌýair quality category to support LEED 4.1 0+M certification.ÌýÌý

As theÌýarbncoÌýplatformÌýmeasures VOC, CO2, PM, and other parameters, thisÌýdata was automatically streamed from theÌýarbncoÌýplatform to the ArcÌýplatform, therefore managing performance in air quality and human experience categories for Schneider Electric.ÌýScaled floor plans were used byÌýarbncoÌýto design a sensor plan to meet the data requirements.Ìý

Overall, the automated flow of continuous dataÌýfrom theÌýarbncoÌýplatformÌýinto Arc enabledÌýa streamlined approach to maintaining the high levels of operational performance at the facility. The data madeÌýLEED certification easier and faster by automating compliance for credits in the Indoor Air Quality and Human Experience categories.ÌýIn addition, there are wider benefits from this data-led approach. For the phased re-occupation of the facilityÌýduringÌýthe COVID-19 lockdown, the policy of measuring air quality (and CO2Ìýas an indicator of ventilation) enables the building management to demonstrate confidence in the workplace as a healthy and attractive environment using outcome-based, best-practice monitoring.Ìý

Facts and Figures

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