Evaluation of HVAC Optimal Control Based On Real Time Floor-By-Floor Occupancy Validates Significant Nantum OS Energy Savings
Washington, D.C.—December 15, 2022—Prescriptive Data and the Tower Companies conducted a two-year study of Prescriptive Data’s Nantum OS energy conservation measures at a commercial office building owned by The Tower Companies in Washington, DC. With support from the U.S. Department of Energy, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory evaluated the performance of the Nantum OS technology. Results show that the platform successfully integrated over 21,000 data points and could generate 6% whole building energy reductions, representing tens of thousands of dollars in annual savings at just one property.
Here’s what you need to know:
What is Nantum OS?
Nantum OS is a building operating system and can be classified as an Energy Management Information System (EMIS). Nantum OS connects to all building systems including but not limited to BMS, HVAC, utility meters and submeters, lighting systems, shades, smart glass, indoor air quality sensors, occupancy sensors, and other data points within and around the built environment. These data points are then used in real-time situational awareness in addition to integration with historical reporting.
Another prime functionality of Nantum OS is its machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities, otherwise known as Automated System Optimization (ASO). Nantum OS automates building systems to use the least amount of energy and produce as few greenhouse gas emissions as possible while providing the maximum amount of indoor comfort for occupants. Known as Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs), this is done primarily through leveraging occupancy data so actual building operation more closely reflects real-time occupancy. Nantum OS also uses machine learning and AI to detect abnormal behavior within building systems.
Recently named the Business Intelligence Group’s 2022 Sustainability Product of the Year, Nantum OS was also highlighted in the news earlier this year for becoming JPMorgan Chase’s chosen AI platform for real estate sustainability.
The Evaluation
Nantum OS was selected through the annual Proving Ground RFI process because of its impressive potential to drive energy and emissions reductions, as a value-add tool for operators, and provide healthy, comfortable conditioning to buildings. Nantum OS’ AI and machine learning technologies build a memory of patterns to predict, prescribe actions, and influence building performance. Nantum integrates data streams from several systems and technologies, providing a “single pane of glass” functionality. This enables building engineers and staff to monitor performance in real-time in one place.
The evaluation took place at a roughly 300,000 square-foot office constructed in 1965. Situated just blocks from the White House in Washington, DC., the building features 12 floors above ground, one level of ground-floor retail, and four parking floors below grade. The building consists of two chillers totaling 850 tons, two primary chilled water pumps, four boilers, and three hot water pumps. Tenant comfort is maintained with 22 air handling units, and numerous variable-air-volume terminal units and fan coil units.
Installed in the summer of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacted testing. Occupancy plummeted from near 100% down to 5%. Historic building energy consumption could no longer be used to predict future energy consumption or calculate energy savings because of the unprecedented changes in daily operations. Because of this, the IPMVP Option D "Calibrated Computer Simulation," where savings are determined through a simulation of the energy use of the whole facility or sub-facility, was utilized to calculate savings under fully occupied conditions.
The Results
Here is a quick recap of the test results:
- 6% whole building savings per year across all ECMs.
- Nantum OS’s optimal start time and early shutdown ECMs had the greatest impact.
- The study successfully integrated 21,000+ data points from diverse data streams within a month.
- Facility staff and IT found the technology useful and sufficiently cyber-secure.
- Nantum OS was helpful in maintaining building operations during periods of rapid change and operational uncertainty as part of Tower Companies’ COVID-19 response.
- Savings results are consistent with concurrent tests in a set of federal buildings.
“Testing with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the Department of Energy, and our commercial partners shows that Nantum OS discovers and seizes opportunities for building owners when it comes to energy conservation and emission reduction. Nantum OS was able to achieve nearly every project’s specified goals across a variety of assets and climates despite the challenging circumstances wrought by a global pandemic, further proving the product’s value to owners and operators.”
About Prescriptive Data’s Nantum OS
Nantum OS is an artificial intelligence and machine learning climate technology designed for commercial real estate operators and sustainability managers. Nantum OS allows real estate managers to visualize building HVAC systems, metering systems, people counting systems, IoT devices (air quality, lighting, shade, smart glass), distributed energy systems (battery storage, fuel cells, on-site generation equipment, solar), and third-party datasets in real-time. Nantum OS uses real-time AI/ML algorithms to reduce building energy demand, suppress carbon emissions, and shrink utility costs. Each building on Nantum OS uses the least amount of energy and carbon emissions while delivering the maximum amount of health and comfort to occupied spaces.
