Building Systems

What are Building Systems?

Focusing on how each structural component interacts is what it means to "create as a system" in design and construction. Everything from the outside to the inside is covered, as are connections to municipal sewage systems and electrical networks. This holistic approach takes into account each component's performance in relation to the others is taken into account through each component's life cycle. The interaction of many parts impacts the performance of each section. The building's performance is best evaluated by taking each section into account.

Individually, efficient components won’t always translate into an efficient system. Therefore, it is crucial (in terms of energy efficiency) to consider the interrelationship of the components. Before the systems approach was developed, building components were evaluated individually. As a result, buildings experienced challenges such as excessive heat or cold, high condensation levels, or tenant noise complaints. There were even floods when a building's link to municipal drainage systems was ignored.

The building as a system approach calls for the collaboration of trained experts from the physical sciences, engineering, economics, behavioral sciences, architecture, and construction fields. This requires both technical and soft skillsets, paired with collaboration between architects, electricians, maintenance workers, and planners.

Why Building as a System Approach?

The method of "building as a system" has several advantages. The building as a system method provides a thorough picture of a facility's efficiency across the course of both its short- and long-term use. Clear knowledge of the facility’s efficiency is necessary to find opportunities for improvement.

Increasing the energy efficiency of a building provides advantages for both the inhabitants and society at large. It contributes to decreased utility costs for consumers, increased grid stability for energy suppliers, and a general decrease in carbon emissions.

Increasing occupant health and safety, enhancing building longevity, and enhancing occupant pleasure are further advantages of a “buildings as systems” approach. These advantages are attained through research observations like how windows reflect sunlight onto inhabitants' screens, sound travels across units, and how to extinguish fires slower to promote safety.

Types of Building Systems

The different types of building systems include:

Lighting Systems

Lighting systems are a collection of luminaires and related lighting equipment. This equipment will be installed in an application to provide the right amount of light when needed. This is done in consideration of human comfort, safety, security, visibility, the physical environment, and daylight integration. Even though energy-efficient lighting components are critical, effective lighting paired with daylight system design and controls can still add significant energy savings.

HVAC&R Systems

HAVC&R systems ( heating, cooling, refrigeration, and ventilation) use the most energy in commercial buildings. Efficient HVAC systems can optimize energy use through speed controls, heat recovery, water or air-based distribution, and ventilation. Low-level heat (like rejected heat from HVAC or refrigeration systems) can be used to pre-heat hot water systems or condition outside ventilation air.

Hot Water Systems

Hot water building systems distribute hot water throughout a building. Examples of hot water distribution systems include pipe layout, steam boilers, and strategic placement of the heating system.

Motor Systems

Motor systems are building systems that consider factors like inverters, drivetrains, and electronic drive controls. They also consider the choice of motor-driven components, for example, pumps and air handlers. All these system components could increase the system’s efficiency.

Combined Heat and Power

These building systems can save energy, reduce building operation costs, improve building operational resilience and enhance grid reliability. There are three advantages of combined heat and power resilience value. First, it allows continued operation during major events. Secondly, it guarantees power reliability under routine conditions. Thirdly, the power quality is improved.

District Energy Systems

Building systems improve energy productivity and energy diversity while reducing GHG emissions. District energy systems can reduce heating and cooling energy in urban structures by 30 to 50%. District energy systems are open to different thermal fuel sources. Therefore, when district energy systems are combined with CHP (Combined Heat and Power), they diversify the source of both electricity and heat.

Direct Current Power

When direct current power is included within a building, it reduces the energy demand and expands control options, grid balancing, safety, and reliability. Direct Current Power distribution can deliver energy savings that are systems-oriented for lighting, MELs, and many HVAC&R components. The process requires reducing the alternating current to DC (AC/DC) conversion losses and AC/AC transformer losses, in standby and active modes.

Applications of Building Systems

Building systems are used in many building types, including:

• Industrial building structures
• Medical building structures
• Residential building structures
• Supermarket / Mall structures

Benefits of Building Systems

• Building systems provide a picture of the building’s short-term and long-term efficiency. This lowers the expenses of the occupants and reduces carbon emissions.
• Building systems increase the safety, satisfaction, and health of occupants.
• Building systems are durable, sustainable long-term solutions.
• Building systems provide advanced techniques and tools to enhance the security system