There are a few significant factors that facility managers need to consider when determining the building management system price:
- Size (total square footage)
- Type of building(s)
- Integratable systems like lighting, HVAC systems, fire, security, and access control
One important consideration is understanding that an open, non-proprietary building management system (BMS) platform translates into a higher ROI.
For example, a facility manager can aggregate all of that data and analyze it for:
- Energy savings
- Operational efficiencies
- Preventive maintenance
- Many other building performance improvements
Building owners can see a higher return rate when done correctly, usually within five years.
Cost of Building Management Systems
Generally speaking, the BMS cost per m2 is between $2.50 and $7.50.
In addition to the factors above, the average cost can also be affected by the following:
- Whether or not you’re installing the system in a new building.
- If it’s a new system in an older building.
- If it’s an upgrade from an older legacy traditional BMS.
The type of business also can affect the price. For example, a data center would cost more per square foot than a typical office building. This is because the data center requires lots of cooling power to keep its electronic equipment running optimally.
Benefits of New Building Management Systems
A new, open-platform system allows you to capitalize on the latest smart building technologies. This gives you ample options for the price since it’s not locked into one company’s offerings.
A new building control automation system also allows you to integrate systems, oversee performance, and leverage the data produced by each system.
This could mean massive energy efficiency savings and incredible operational savings through efficiencies and decreased downtime for repair for many buildings.
Installation of New Building Management Systems
New construction is the ideal time to consider installing a BMS. Working with a building management system installation company early on will save money in initial costs (no retrogrades later). This will help guide you on the ideal placement of sensors throughout the facility. This enables the BMS to optimize all systems used within the facility.
Vykon Building and Energy
An open and integrative system, like Tridium, allows the optimization of buildings, data centers, industrial plants, and even entire city infrastructures.
Tridium provides a software infrastructure to integrate diverse systems and devices into a unified platform you can manage over the Internet.
Tridium also offers Vykon Building and Vykon Energy that will enable you to integrate proprietary and otherwise incompatible products into a unified enterprise solution. This will allow you to measure, manage, and control facilities and energy applications worldwide.
Building Management System Legacy Upgrade
Don’t let anyone tell you that upgrading from an older legacy system isn’t an option. However, choosing the right company to upgrade your legacy BMS is critical.
A company specializing in building automation system legacy upgrades can evaluate your current system and provide cost estimates. They will pinpoint areas where a legacy system is lacking and define the benefits of upgrading or migrating to a newer system.
Their goal is to help extend the life of the existing building management system and preserve as much of the initial investment as possible. A professional may also be able to provide a migration path that allows for an upgrade over time.
How to Save with a BAS Upgrade
As compared to replacing a legacy Building Automation System, upgrading your current BAS system is a more cost effective way to achieve your desired results.
Mid-Atlantic Controls can help you protect your initial BAS investment by upgrading components of your legacy automation system. To learn more about BAS Upgrades, visit our website: https://www.midatlanticcontrols.com/building-automation-services/legacy-upgrades/
Benefits of Legacy Building Automation System Upgrades
Building operators can benefit from technology improvements when upgrading a legacy system without losing their initial investment in the original BMS.
Some of the key benefits of upgrading a legacy system include:
- Preserving initial BAS and EMCS investments
- Upgrading older building automation and energy management systems
- Taking advantage of current technology with your existing system
- Removing ties to proprietary systems and increasing upgrade options
- Reducing expansion, service, maintenance, and operating costs of an existing BMS or EMCS
- Allowing Multi-Building and Campus Integration of different systems
- Integrating multiple systems allows the streamlining of building management.
- Building Automation System ROI & Data Analytics
One of the great benefits of building management systems is the daily wealth of valuable data your building produces. Facility and property managers can then visualize the real-time data from each of the building’s systems on their laptops or iPads.
You can leverage building automation system data in many ways, including:
- Energy cost savings
- Access control
- Security
- Maintenance
- And more
From lighting to HVAC, there are many ways that you can achieve significant cost savings. According to research, commercial buildings account for 18% of all the energy used in the U.S. Around 30% of that goes to waste due to inefficiencies.
More Savings With Building Automation Systems
You’ll realize greater immediate and long-term savings when you work with a company with experience integrating systems within a BMS platform. For example, you can:
- Track building usage patterns.
- Track equipment lifecycle patterns.
- Detect anomalies in production.
- Pinpoint equipment that needs to be repaired or replaced before it breaks down.
You can also save tremendous money by reducing downtime, maintenance, and repair costs for industrial-type buildings or production facilities.
Choosing the Right Building Management System
An automated building system provides you with complete control over your facilities. You’ll get real-time access to the various functions that control and manage your equipment. This allows for even more significant savings, efficiencies, and better returns on your investment.
Working with Mid-Atlantic Controls for your building automation system project will ensure that you have access to the latest and greatest state-of-the-art technology backed by our decades of experience and expert advice.
