Study reveals significant energy savings in London offices

A new study by Schneider Electric shows that occupancy-based controls in central London office meeting rooms can reduce operational energy use and carbon emissions by an average of 22%. The research focused on energy conservation measures (ECMs) implemented at 150 Holborn, a smart office building designed for sustainability.

The study found that during business hours, meeting rooms maintained a lower temperature and reduced use of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting, and plug loads 76% of the time. This approach led to a notable decrease in energy consumption. By comparing high-occupancy business days to low-occupancy days over a four-week period, researchers observed that lower occupancy days resulted in a 22% reduction in energy and carbon emissions associated with fan coil, lighting, and plug load use.

The implementation of advanced sensors for occupancy controls is estimated to yield a payback period of approximately two years, based solely on room-level energy savings. This period could potentially be shorter if savings from other HVAC components were included.

Despite the energy-saving measures, indoor air quality remained within healthy ranges, with carbon dioxide levels, relative humidity, and volatile organic compounds monitored and controlled effectively.

150 Holborn, a nine-storey building spanning 18,500 square metres, served as an ideal location for the study, equipped with a modern Building Management System (BMS) and IoT-enabled sensors. This environment allowed researchers to assess the impacts of real-time occupancy detection on energy consumption while ensuring occupant comfort.

The findings suggest that similar energy-efficient solutions can be implemented in both new and existing office spaces, presenting a scalable approach for businesses aiming to reduce their carbon footprint. Schneider Electric says that these results are based on actual data from a fully operational office, highlighting the practicality of adopting smart technology for energy management.

To access the full white paper, visit here.