Peak Demand Management (PDM)
I just finished recording the Peak Demand Management course in the BMS membership and wanted to give you a quick summary while it’s fresh in my mind.
Firstly, every building in the world should have an active PDM control strategy. And secondly, it should be linked to the optimal start strategy. Both optimal start and PDM should be designed to work together.
This is money that both building owners and BMS companies are leaving on the table. If you are a BMS company, sell PDM optimisation mini-projects, AND, a number of days per year to maintain the PDM control strategy. If you are a building owner, ask the BMS company to watch this video.
I hope this video gives you a few ideas of how you can do something differently and be a hero :-)
Note: I made a few mistakes in the video. I think I said course instead of project once, and obviously, starting the building three hours early is not an optimal start. But, you get the point. These videos are not scripted, and I spoke for 28 minutes without any notes, one take. I am no longer doing multiple takes to get it right. I just hit record and do the best I can in one shot. I’d rather be doing something else on a Sunday morning :-)
Optimal Start vs Peak Demand Management
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Bryce Anderson
For the first 15 years of my career (1998-2013), I worked for BMS companies (2 years in South Africa, 9 years in London, and 4 years in Australia). For the next +10 years (from 2014 onwards), I have worked as a BMS specialist consultant. I originally studied instrumentation and process controls.
In my consulting business (80% of my working week), I am designing (writing specifications), reviewing BMS contractor technical submissions, witnessing and signing off BMS projects from all major BMS systems and a wide range of different BMS companies, from global tier-1 manufacturers to smaller system integrators.
This puts me in a unique situation where I have visibility into what everyone is doing. The experience I share in the membership is made up from my own personal 15 years designing BMS systems, writing software code, commissioning, service and project management (across 3 different regions), plus the best parts of what the industry is providing.
This exposure to the wider industry allows me to provide customised training courses that not only teach the technical side of the BMS, but also address current real-life issues and constraints in the Building Management System industry.
I am not just teaching you what I learnt, but the best of what everyone else is doing.
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Many BMS companies implement optimal start strategies but rarely check if they’re truly working. Floors might not hit setpoints on time, and energy use is often overlooked. A dedicated optimal start graphic is essential; it lets you tune the system, balance comfort with efficiency, and prove value to the building owner. Without it, optimisation is just “trust us,” not measurable results.
Planned Maintenance Schedules go beyond annual checks. They provide structure, accountability, and clear communication showing clients exactly what’s being done and when. They help justify your fees, demonstrate professionalism, and turn routine maintenance into a long-term value partnership.
Measurement and Verification can be repurposed for more than just proving the savings to your client and justifying repeat work (optimisation projects).
Measurement and Verification can be repurposed for more than just proving the savings to your client and justifying repeat work (optimisation projects).
Understand why your customers do not approve important fee proposals and build a pipeline of service project work.
Where does the BMS/BAS fit in a world of technology? Where will the BMS/BAS be in 10 years?
We are building buildings faster than ever before, but we haven’t changed how we design and install the BMS/BAS. To keep up we need to completely change how we design and install BMS/BAS systems.
Some technology companies will market their product as opening up the lock-in from the BMS and the BMS contractor. That may not be quite right.
People don’t want to work like they have been for the past 100 years. People want more than just work-life balance. They want the flexibility to work where they want and when they want.
Who is responsible for your continuous professional development? Your employer? You? Watch this video to find out.
The Chiller Management System (CMS) visualisation and analysis manual provides a resource for engineers that want to provide best-in-class chiller management system visualisation and analysis.
There are millions of buildings around the world that have the incorrect outside air being drawn in from the AHUs.
Graphics are the easiest thing to enhance to impress our customers. But, we continue to deliver the most simple graphics.
When we want to save energy, we often start with the major systems. E.g., the chilled water system. But, there are a lot of small changes that can be made, which can often be done during BMS service time.
BMS companies are not training their engineers and managers in advanced concepts. If they are not going to do it, then you should consider investing in your own career.
Like everything, there are pros and cons that need to be considered when you have a multi-vendor BMS.
We have been following the same rule for over 30 years. Is it time to reconsider how we look at our serial sub-network designs?
They were here, and now they are not. I thought I’d sit down and try to work this one out as no one has given me a good answer yet.
There are a few basics that I feel have gotten lost over the years. If you are a BMS engineer and you submit BMS technical submissions for review, then you should watch this video.
If you have any Windows Server 2012 operating systems, then you need to get fee proposals in right now so that the funding will be available next year.
10 years ago, we gave away Energy Management Systems, 5 years ago we gave away building analytics. What are we going to give away next?
The BMS Net Zero program. Know exactly how you are going to test your optimisation efforts and how you are going to prove the reduced power consumption before you start. If you can not prove the saving, then there is no saving!