Consisting of hardware and software, a BMS monitors a building’s lighting, energy consumption, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), fire systems, and security systems. The installation of this system helps improve business energy efficiency and reduce maintenance costs. 

 A BMS system is usually connected to digital metres and sensors. It allows you to have control over the system by being able to adjust setpoints such as temperature, speed, and operational timings of equipment. Having control of your energy usage allows you to benefit from energy savings and maintenance costs. 

Most BMS systems collect and store data that can be transformed into actionable insights to optimise a building’s energy performance.  

For example, our homes have thermostats that have the ability to see the current temperature and allow us to make control changes. The thermostat in this example is essentially the equivalent of a BMS in a building. 
 

Building Management Systems vs Connect360:

There are many differences between a building management system (BMS) and Connect360 including:

1. Connections:

A BMS system can only be connected to building assets whereas Connect360 can easily be connected to many data sources. 
 

2. Visualisation:

Connect360 offers quick visualisation of data and offers personalised dashboards. It also brings data to life and allows for easy trend analysis. 
 
On the other hand, a BMS system usually only shows the setpoint and consumption. Visualisation of data and dashboards are also not available. Unlike Connect360, the system doesn’t offer trend analysis.

3. Installation:

The Connect360 energy management system doesn’t require installation and support from an experienced technician. However, BMS installation is more complex, so a trained technician is required for installation and amendments. 

 
The ability to collect, organise, and analyse large amounts of data to improve your building's performance can be difficult especially since a BMS doesn’t allow for the easy creation of dashboards in real time, visualisation of data, or trend analysis. Because of this, Connect360 can be used in conjunction with the system to improve efficiency.

Connect360 can help you identify and fill gaps in logging, and deal with inconsistencies in timesteps and units, by connecting to your building management system (BMS). This can make it easier to get real value from your data.

The cloud-based software helps you collect, organise, and analyse valuable data from your building's BMS system and other sensors, all in one place. While our advanced simulation capabilities enable us to intelligently fill any data gaps that you may have. This delivers a complete data picture of operational performance, whether for a single building or an entire portfolio.
 

Advantages of Installing a Building Management System:
 

• Offers real-time monitoring of a building’s performance and operations. 

• Helps maximise energy efficiency by giving your business more control over energy usage. 

• Increased energy efficiency allows for reduced energy and maintenance costs, as well as cost savings. 

• It may sound like a complex system intended for large buildings, but a BMS can be integrated into the business processes of small & medium businesses. 

• Can be used with Connect360 to offer actionable insights and bring data to life. 

• Using Connect360 alongside your BMS provides you with the opportunity to gain ISO 50001 certification which demonstrates a business’s commitment to continually improving its energy management. 

 
Feel free to reach out to us at Energia should you require any advice or information on building management systems or Connect360.