Software Maintenance: A Must for Energy Management Programs

Abstract

There are many reasons for implementing a preventive mainte-
nance (PM) program: to lower power consumption, extend the life of
equipment, and to maintain or improve tenants’ thermal comfort. How-
ever, all the efforts to service and improve the performance of the HVAC
system may be promoted or hindered by the building automation sys-
tem (BAS). While the PM program may provide a certain level of assur-
ance that the HVAC system is working at optimal performance, the BAS
is the one dictating the load level as well as the duration of operation,
thus impacting the entire cost of operation of the facility. For that reason,
I suggest including software maintenance as an integrated part of the
PM program. This article will discuss the various aspects of software
maintenance and its impact on the power consumption of facilities and
their operating cost. I will also present a list of critical BAS items to be
included in the software maintenance program.