Welcome to CopperTree’s new Application Series – a collection of articles focused on answering key questions around relevant principles and concepts in our building analytics domain. Our main objective is to offer practical how-to advice, clarifying terminology and highlighting benefits help…
Fundamental Series on Building Analytics: How Automated Fault Detection and Diagnostics Complement Energy Information Systems
After careful analysis and consultation, an energy manager at a large corporation has set an energy reduction target of 190 ekWh/m2 (18 ekWh/ft2) in her regional portfolio, a goal to be achieved within the next four years. Her team has prepared…
Fundamental Series on Building Analytics: How Does an Energy Information System Help Manage Building Energy and Why is it Needed?
The quote, “If you can measure it, you can manage it” is often attributed to management guru Peter Drucker. However, those who have done literature review believe that Renaissance mathematician and astronomer Rheticus coined the phrase back in the sixteenth century….
Fundamental Series on Building Analytics: What is an Energy Information System?
The energy crises of the seventies, beginning with the oil embargo in 1973, followed by the oil shock in 1979, are generally regarded as the catalysts that led to an increased focus on energy conservation. Energy supply problems caused dramatic increases…
A Case for Virtual Metering
This is a tale of two buildings, Building A and Building B. Both buildings have electrical and natural gas services provided by their local utility companies, with main physical meters sending energy consumption data to their respective Building Automation System (BAS)….
How to Invest In Occupant Comfort (& Get ROI)
6 variables drive an occupant’s thermal comfort: air temperature, surface temperature, humidity, clothing level, activity level, and air velocity, but these factors don’t tell the full story behind the maintenance involved in optimizing temperature in office buildings, commercial buildings, K-12 schools,…
Auditing Building Comfort Series: Safety & Energy Use in Lab Spaces
Lab spaces in K-12 schools and especially on university campuses are notorious for consuming a large proportion of the overall energy expenditure in their building portfolios. This is largely because of the necessary safety measures that are taken to maintain a…
How Analytics Help Facility Teams Transition to Preventative Maintenance
On the whole, facility teams struggle with a lack of resources. Dwindling workforce and budget cuts in parallel with steadily increasing responsibility contribute to a constant feeling of playing catch-up. Making the transition to preventative maintenance can seem, frankly, unattainable –…
Auditing Building Comfort Series: Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
In commercial buildings, offices, schools and on university campuses, Commissioning Agents and Facility Managers’ ultimate goal should be to create an environment where their occupants are at their most comfortable, and therefore most productive state, all while keeping energy costs to…