Practical experiences from the implementation of extensive sensoring in a modern building

Abstract

The extensive use of sensors is quickly becoming a standard feature of modern new buildings. Apart from the use of regular Building Management System (BMS) data, we see the addition of sensors that monitor in more detail the indoor environmental quality and the use and performance of innovative (and local) system solutions. This is also combined with integrated energy solutions at supra-building level. The assumption is that all these data are valuable to arrive at buildings that can optimize their operation towards indoor environmental and other sustainable performance indicators. In this research, data from a large modern building that combines office and educational rooms, features an innovative façade design and is connected to an aquifer thermal energy storage are considered. In order to perform detailed analyses, several sensor and data related issues had to be resolved first. In this paper we provide a procedure for structuring the data as was available for this specific building, originating from different sources. The outcomes provide a practical basis for other buildings to assess the correctness and quality of the sensor data and the analysis potential. An example of an analysis is presented. In addition, the paper demonstrates how the obtained measurement data can be used to calibrate a simulation model that is employed to analyse the ventilative cooling potential of the innovative façade in comparison to shading.