The University of Liverpool has recently completed a project in collaboration with Glasgow-based climate technology firm, IES, that resulted in significant energy savings at one of its campus buildings. The project utilized a new tool called IES Live to optimize the operational performance of the building, resulting in operational cost savings of £25,000 and a reduction in energy consumption by 23 percent.
By connecting live operational data from a building to a digital twin via the cloud, IES Live provides facilities managers with real-time insights into operational performance metrics. This technology allows for various refurbishment scenarios to be tested to identify improvements that would enhance efficiency and generate energy, carbon, and cost savings. Once selected improvements are implemented, the digital twin is calibrated to match measured data hourly, allowing for further optimizations to be made.
The university’s facilities management team is now using this operational performance digital twin to continually monitor and improve the building, tracking performance and gaining insights for energy, carbon, and comfort improvements. The live feature of the tool helps prevent operational drift by identifying and fixing issues before they impact performance. The success of this project has led to plans for creating digital twins for three more buildings on the campus in the next phase of work.
Overall, the use of IES Live at the University of Liverpool has demonstrated the potential for significant energy and cost savings through the optimization of building performance. By leveraging digital twin technology and real-time data, facilities managers can make informed decisions to enhance efficiency and drive towards decarbonization.
