ABSTRACT

The utility electricity sector across the world is a substantial consumer of energy, with the building sector playing a major role in energy consumption. However, there is a significant thrust in ensuring that these buildings are accountable for their energy use and are energy-efficient. Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled devices are increasingly used to manage and optimize the energy use in buildings, rendering all building subsystems connected and smart. A building comprises of several subsystems, namely, the lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, surveillance subsystems etc. There also exists co-ordination and interoperability issues. It is therefore necessary to develop a building energy management system (BEMS) to ensure seamless co-ordination amongst different subsystems in a building. This work throws light into the coordination issues faced in BEMS subsystems due to their heterogeneity. The importance of a decision support model and the associated framework is also discussed in the measurement and management of energy use in buildings.