Building Controls & Energy Management

This course presents an overview of various energy uses, sources and cost structures, as well as strategies to reduce energy consumption and costs. Conventional and renewable energy sources are discussed. Strategies for energy conservation, fuel switching and changing to passive systems are examined. Behavioural changes as a conservation strategy are introduced. The rationale for sustainable energy management within existing buildings is explored.
Prerequisite(s):

• Acceptance into the SEMAC or BCEM programs.

This course provides an overview of best practices for energy efficient control strategies in building systems. The course will include controls strategies for HVAC, Pumping, Low Voltage Lighting, and security systems. Control strategies will include variable flow air and water strategies, heating and cooling lockouts, real time demand and occupancy based control, predictive algorithms, load based control, intelligent response and dynamic reset. Students will explore the energy impacts of these strategies in order to prioritize alternative controls approaches. The course will also provide a general introduction to and overview of all topics in the BCIT Controls and Energy Management Program.
Prerequisite(s):

• 50% in CESA 5100^† (^† may be taken concurrently)

This course presents an overview of building automation systems, communication protocols, system integration and data analytics as it relates to the role of energy management professionals. Topics include identifying different industry standard communication protocols and normalizing data so it can be analyzed by software. The course will cover Industry standard automation protocols and standards such as BACnet, LonWorks, Modbus Haystack and CoBe and will have students identify what role they play in today’s building automation industry. The course will cover The Internet of Things (IoT) as well as practical use cases in order to understand how this might affect the future of DDC controls. Students will learn how to integrate to various data sources, pull the data into a common platform, give the data metadata so it is meaningful to software, and then run analytics on that data to identify potential areas of optimization.
Prerequisite(s):

• 50% in CESA 5320

This course presents an overview of various energy policies, laws, codes, standards, and building rating systems for existing buildings including the Model National Energy Code of Canada, ASHRAE Standards 90.1, BC Energy Code, Vancouver Energy Bylaw and LEEDTM Building Rating Systems. The course also introduces energy requirements, targets, and performance measures currently mandated or suggested as best practices, as well as upcoming further reduction requirements. This course may be eligible for students to receive funding through the StrongerBC Future Skills Grant at www.bcit.ca/financial-aid/strongerbc-future
Prerequisite(s):

• 50% in CESA 5300 or 50% in CESA 5320

This course will build upon the introductory concepts presented in CESA 5320 - Energy Systems and Controls to provide students with information on how to create an optimized control system with more complex control strategies. From these learnings, the student will be able design an optimal control system creating a complete controls package such as a detailed points list, sequence of operation, alarm and trend schedules, and integration schedules. This package will cover content that can be used in a new construction project or retrofitting an existing system. Students will be able to identify a direct digital control (DDC) package that meets all the requirements of the specifications. Student will review detailed DDC submittals and create a deficiency list if required. Students will then theoretically work through the process of commissioning a new system or retro-commissioning an existing system during which the student will verify if the DDC systems meet all the requirements of the specifications and if it is commissioned properly.
Prerequisite(s):

• 50% in CESA 5100 and 50% in CESA 5320 and 50% in CESA 5500^† (^† may be taken concurrently)

This course presents an overview of various decision-making tools and methodologies. Performance indicators examined include: direct and indirect financial costs and benefits, and non-monetary costs and benefits. Emphasis is placed on full life cycle costing, assessment and energy analysis.
Prerequisite(s):

• 50% in CESA 5600

​This is an introduction to organizational behaviour and change management concepts, including group effects, motivators, and communication techniques, that can be used to facilitate organizational change, with a focus on energy management. ​John P. Kotter's eight-stage process to leading successful change is examined, along with the eight errors that are common to unsuccessful change efforts. Kotter's framework is further explored through the fable Our Iceberg Is Melting, which he co-wrote with Holger Rathgeber. Doug McKenzie-Mohr's community-based social marketing principles to foster sustainable behaviour change are probed and then applied to the development of a comprehensive behavioural change campaign on the topic of energy conservation or waste reduction.
Prerequisite(s):

• 50% in CESA 5100

This course presents the actions, policies, strategies and management systems required by day-to-day operations of buildings through the integration of building controls. This course is to give a full understanding of how to operate and maintain a building automation system and how to use that system to improve the ongoing energy efficiency of facilities operations.
Prerequisite(s):

• 50% in CESA 5320 and 50% in CESA 5620

​This course is the final project course for the Controls and Energy Management Program. Students will apply the knowledge they have learned of building energy efficiency, automation systems, commissioning, and data analytics to propose solutions to optimize the system operation of a real building. Students will work in groups for this project to assess a building and determine controls related performance improvement measures. The deliverable for this course is a report that presents the findings of the assessment, budget, and recommendations of improvement strategies, including anticipated cost savings. A short final presentation will be delivered to the class to outline the project and recommendations.
Prerequisite(s):

• 50% in CESA 5420 and 50% in CESA 5500 and 50% in CESA 5700 and 50% in CESA 5800 and 50% in CESA 5820