After carrying out a NABERS Base Building Energy rating in 2020 and achieving a 5 Star result, Benmax identified the building’s potential for further improvement. With a revised target for the building set at 5.5 Stars by client JGS Property, Benmax were engaged to expand on our existing mechanical service and maintenance agreement to carry out energy monitoring, and direct tuning and improvement activities.

Located in the heart of Canberra’s CBD and being home to ActewAGL, the primary local electricity and gas retail and distribution company, 40 Bunda Street is a 7,500 sqm seven storey commercial building comprising a combination of passive chilled beams and variable air volume air handling systems. Mechanical services are controlled by a Delta Building Automation Building Management System (BMS).

Optimisation and monitoring activities commenced late in 2020, already part way through the next NABERS rating period, so the team had some ground to gain in order to get on track to achieve the 5.5 Stars rating. To help accelerate the process and gain more detailed insights into building operations, Benmax deployed the analytics platform, PEAK, by CIM. The analytics helped to inform, monitor, and verify improvement activities.

Opportunities identified included a reduction in unnecessary outside air supply (maximising use of the existing CO2 monitoring system), tuning chilled water enable set points, and general tuning of deadbands and heating/cooling set points.

Electricity reduction: 13%

Gas reduction: 20%

Greenhouse gas emissions reduction: 42 tons CO2-e

The next target for the building is to extend the lead over and above the 5.5 Star benchmark, securing the rating for another year. A key component to the success of this project was the collaboration in workflows between Facilities Management, BMS maintenance, and Benmax’s mechanical maintenance teams each bringing a unique but necessary aspect to the building’s performance improvement.

Project features:

• Existing mechanical service and maintenance contract
• Constructed in 2010
• Combination of open plan offices, boardrooms, meeting rooms and breakout spaces
• Central HVAC services supported by a combination of passive chilled beams and VAVs
• Delta BA Building Management System
• Benmax Edge deployed and managed CIM PEAK analytics package
• Outcomes: Electricity reduction: 13%; Gas reduction: 20%; Greenhouse gas emissions reduction: 42 tons CO2-e