Going Beyond Energy Efficiency to Smart Buildings: Success Story of KDC’s BEMS Implementation
With the recent rise in energy costs and the growing societal demand for ESG management, the importance of building energy management systems (BEMS) is becoming increasingly prominent. While many companies consider implementing BEMS to improve energy efficiency and reduce operational costs, achieving successful results can often be challenging. In particular, outdated equipment, complex building structures, and diverse usage patterns pose significant challenges in establishing energy management systems. We introduce a successful case of overcoming these challenges and transitioning to a smart building with KDC’s BEMS implementation.
“Nothing seems to satisfy…” A story from a client who had tried various energy management systems in the past but did not achieve satisfactory results remains memorable.
How Could Energy Efficiency in an Old Building Be Improved?
Located in Seoul, Public Institution A was in a situation where energy efficiency improvement was urgently needed due to its high energy-consuming outdated building. Previously, manual management of facilities led to severe energy waste, and it was difficult to accurately identify the energy usage status. In particular, inefficient operation of heating and cooling facilities was a major cause of increased energy consumption during summer and winter.
Facility managers attempted various methods to save energy, but did not see significant improvement. The coexistence of equipment from different manufacturers made integrated management difficult, and the absence of data analysis and forecasting systems made problem-solving even harder. Additionally, the wide variation in energy consumption due to diverse user activity patterns and changes in the internal and external building environment made it challenging to establish a consistent energy management strategy. Moreover, faced with the government’s energy-saving policy compliance and the need to practice ESG management, Public Institution A was in desperate need of an innovative solution to improve energy efficiency. In this situation, KDC stepped in to provide a customized BEMS solution to solve Public Institution A’s energy efficiency issues.
KDC’s Customized BEMS Solution: Integrated Management and Optimal Control
KDC accurately identified the problems of Public Institution A and proposed an optimal solution integrating the Building Automation System (BAS) and Building Energy Management System (BEMS). First, they constructed a scafa UI-based 2D/3D interface to enable the integrated management of existing outdated facilities. This allowed for real-time monitoring and control of all facility statuses within the building. Particularly, a controller capable of expanding up to 160Tags was equipped to flexibly integrate various facilities.
Moreover, the energy management system was designed to monitor and analyze the energy usage status of all electricity, gas, heating, hot water supply, lighting, and air quality in real time, accurately identifying factors contributing to energy waste.
“Even the same heating and cooling issues responded differently by season. KDC’s solution was surprising because it detected these changes and automatically optimized for them.”
As noted by a representative from Public Institution A, KDC’s BEMS focused not merely on data collection but also on predicting energy usage patterns based on the collected data and formulating optimal control strategies to maximize energy efficiency.
Additionally, to enhance energy savings, KDC implemented invert+ (an inverter-based energy-saving system) at Public Institution A. This technology maximized energy efficiency even under low-load conditions, providing optimized energy-saving effects tailored to Public Institution A’s actual operational environment. The application of motor control technology in the VFVD (Variable Frequency Variable Voltage Drive) method minimized fixed losses for motors and ensured high efficiency even in partial load areas. Modbus (RTU/TCP) communication, scheduling, self-diagnostic functions, etc., supported stable system operations and facilitated swift responsive measures in case of issues. KDC’s integrated solution significantly maximized Public Institution A’s energy management efficiency and contributed to reducing operational costs.
Achieving Energy Cost Savings and a Comfortable Environment, Catching Two Birds with One Stone
After implementing KDC’s BEMS solution, Public Institution A achieved an outcome of over 20% reduction in energy costs. This result was driven by minimizing unnecessary energy consumption through real-time energy monitoring and analysis and increasing energy efficiency through optimized equipment control. Efficient operation of heating and cooling facilities, in particular, significantly impacted energy consumption reduction. Furthermore, in addition to energy savings, the internal environment of the building was improved. Maintaining optimal indoor temperature and humidity levels created a comfortable working environment, and the air quality management system reduced indoor air pollution, positively affecting employee health.
“Energy costs noticeably decreased after three months of use. It’s a change we couldn’t have imagined before.”
As noted by the facility manager of Public Institution A, KDC’s BEMS contributed not merely to simple energy savings but also to providing users with a more comfortable and healthy environment.
This positive change led to increased satisfaction among Public Institution A’s staff. Employees, who previously experienced discomfort due to the absence of an energy management system, were able to focus on their work in a pleasant environment following KDC’s BEMS implementation. Additionally, through energy-saving efforts, they felt a sense of pride in participating in ESG management. KDC’s BEMS provided Public Institution A with not just a simple system setup, but a foundation for sustainable growth.
The Era of Mandatory BEMS, The Role and Future of KDC
Currently, the implementation of mandatory BEMS is underway not only domestically but also in Japan, the EU, Singapore, and the UAE (Dubai). In this trend, KDC is playing an important role as a company supplying BEMS solutions. Based on its performance in the domestic procurement market, KDC is actively promoting entry into overseas public procurement markets and exploring the potential to enter Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern markets based on K-certified products.
Also, by strengthening research and development of AI and data-based energy prediction and control systems, KDC is preparing for the future market, planning to provide smart and efficient BEMS solutions by expanding intelligent control systems based on the 4th industry.
The successful BEMS implementation case of KDC can serve as a meaningful reference for other public institutions and companies. Improving energy efficiency is a core element for sustainable management beyond reducing operational costs, and as the mandatory implementation of BEMS spreads, adopting such systems is becoming increasingly essential. Based on proven technological capability and numerous construction experiences, KDC will provide customer-specific BEMS solutions and become a reliable partner for building energy-efficient smart buildings.
KDC will continue to lead the BEMS market through continued technology development and customer-centered service, contributing to the realization of an energy-efficient society. Like the success story of Public Institution A, KDC’s BEMS solutions will support simultaneously achieving three objectives: reducing energy costs, creating a comfortable environment, and practicing ESG management. Now, begin your transition to a smart building with KDC.
As the importance of integrated building control and energy management becomes more pronounced, introducing BEMS centered around the Building Automation System is a practical solution that can achieve both energy efficiency and sustainability. Like the case of KDC, systems optimized for actual environments can be applied not only in public institutions but also in various types of facilities.
