What smart HVAC means for next-generation buildings in Thailand

As commercial HVAC systems integrate IoT capabilities, they reduce energy consumption and slash carbon emissions. Thailand’s investment in 5G gives building owners the foundation to make the leap to sustainable HVAC.

 

IoT: Beyond the hype

IoT – or the Internet of Things – seems to be the technological buzzword of the decade. However, IoT and its implications are often discussed in terms of future possibilities rather than the current state of implementation. But regardless of where IoT is at in terms of maturity, the shift towards a reliance on sensors and big data processing to improve outcomes is underway in nearly every industry – and HVAC is no exception.

 

 In its most basic sense, IoT refers to the power of internet-enabled sensors to collect real-time data on a host of apparatus, and draw meaningful insight from algorithmic analysis. From a heavy industry standpoint, it gives operators granular and real-time information that can help visualise and improve the performance of complex systems – while reaping energy and cost savings in the process. 

 

“Worldwide, air conditioning demand is a major consumer of energy and a contributor to global warming,” says Jon Pickford, Chief Executive Officer of Bangkok-based sustainable building consultancy Smart Build Tech Co.  

 

“If we don't take sustainability and energy conservation seriously, our desire for human comfort is going to override the planet's ability to sustain it.”

 

As climate change action becomes more urgent than ever, finding operational efficiencies in HVAC systems – one of the greatest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters of major cities – with the help of IoT will be vital.

 

IoT-enabled HVAC brings big energy savings to commercial buildings

Commercial HVAC systems present an ideal carbon-cutting opportunity as IoT and AI algorithms advance in sophistication. In a typical commercial building, the HVAC system is the most dynamic and complicated mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) process, and consumes anywhere from 50% to 70% of a building’s electricity.

 

It is the 24/7 motion of a multitude of interconnected mechanical components – pumps, chillers, boilers, condensers, filters, coils – that drive this complexity, and make it particularly difficult for operators to quantify and manage. 

 

When one element is underperforming, it impacts total system efficiency. Yet, identifying the underperforming element and addressing it before failure eludes the capability of current Building Management Systems (BMS).

 

“With BMS you cannot look into the details of how a subsystem is performing, let alone do analytics on how to operate the system most efficiently,” says Dr Vincent Cheng, Director of Building Sustainability, Arup.

 

“We need a way to effectively integrate the system with the pump, fan and chiller. We need a way to respond to the changing external environment – outdoor climate, for instance – as well as the internal space based on the shifting profile of people and their individual needs.”

 

Besides lifecycle inefficiency, HVAC system downtime due to repairs and maintenance is the greatest cost threat that building owners and operators face. 

 

Advances in HVAC systems and technology are making it easier to improve efficiencies and create sustainable solutions

So how can IoT-enabled solutions help solve this challenge?

By connecting sensors to all operating facets, building owners can obtain a real-time read out system performance. Predictive algorithms identify faulty equipment and nodal pain points, allowing for preventative maintenance, staving off system failure and costly downtime.

 

Over time, the HVAC system learns from its behavior when subjected to changes in real-world conditions (such as shifts in outdoor air temperature) and fluctuating user demand. It feeds this gained knowledge back into operational actions, improving performance, reliability, and efficiency over time.

 

Just take this scenario described by Sam Xue, Director – Product Management, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning:

 

“When the HVAC system fails in a commercial building – think a restaurant, hotel or an office – and it’s summer or winter time, then you cannot operate the business. It's a disaster. With predictive maintenance, we can detect the potential risk of the system, then schedule a suitable time – say the weekend or at night when no users are there – to fix the issue without affecting the daily operation of the building.”

 

These advancements signal a paradigm shift in how we can achieve more efficient HVAC systems. While the strategic design of optimal mechanical equipment is still a priority, those efforts will only squeeze out a limited percentage of improvement. However, better operation based on dynamic information promises efficiency gains of between 20 and 30%.

 

“Today, we talk about control at the palm of your hand, control at your screen,” adds Lawrence Chu, Director of Design and Controls IoT Product Management at Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning.

 

“It is going to be radical in terms of how efficient we become.”

 

HVAC advances are making it easier to create more user-friendly designs

Can Thailand bridge the climate gap with smart HVAC?

As Thailand embarks on its mission of a 20.8% reduction in yearly GHG emissions – or 115,600,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent – by 2030, implementing smart HVAC in both new buildings and retrofits will be a critical piece of the puzzle. There are several opportunities for implementing smart HVAC on a large scale, and the government’s March 2021 building energy code (BEC) reinforces this commitment. The BEC requires mandatory energy conservation measures for buildings larger than 2000 square meters.

 

While IoT powered HVAC is already in play to varying degrees in cities around the world, uptake is nowhere near universal, nor to the extent needed to make a significant dent in climate goals. While lifecycle operational benefits are decisive, upfront capital costs and the training needed to acclimate new technical knowledge into the workforce presents a hindrance.

 

Further, the promised benefits of IoT and AI require immense data processing capacity on a scale that is out of reach for many locales – particularly developing nations. 

 

Fortunately, Thailand is already ahead of the curve in this regard. The Eastern Economic Corridor – a special economic zone encompassing three provinces and nearly 3 million people – is poised to be a breeding ground for smart cities. Several infrastructure projects – from 5G to high-speed rail to electric vehicle production – are already underway. As foreign investors see Thailand’s potential as a tech hub connecting India-to-China supply chains, new capital flows will enable sustainable building practices.

 

Thailand’s Economic Intelligence Center estimates that between 2019 and 2022, smart tech investments in the building and real estate sector will reach THB55 billion.

 

If Thailand building owners can capitalise on these investments, they set an example for neighboring countries in the region and worldwide, leading a revolution of sorts in commercial HVAC.

 

Get an in-depth and analytic look at the themes discussed in this article in our latest whitepaper: Ambition, challenges and opportunities – How Thailand can bridge the sustainability gap by embracing smart HVAC solutions

 

Get your copy here.

 

 

by Hitachi Cooling & Heating