Systems optimisation

What's on offer

EECA’s systems optimisation programme is open to commercial and industrial sites, including public sector, whose energy systems energy spend totals at least $200,000 per year.

EECA may fund up to 40% of the cost of optimising a system, up to a maximum of $100,000.

EECA’s Programme Partners can assist in optimising the performance of the following types of systems:

•     HVAC systems
•     Lighting systems
•     BMS systems
•     Process heat (boilers, furnaces, steam and hot water systems)
•     Compressed air systems
•     Refrigeration systems
•     Pumps and motors

These systems can be significant energy users across both industrial and commercial sectors. Systems optimisation focuses on tuning and recalibrating existing equipment, as opposed to purchasing new equipment. EECA can contribute to the cost of specialists that will undertake such tuning.

In some instances significant gains can be achieved by adding additional sensors and feedback systems (e.g. display panels or dashboards) to existing control systems. EECA is able to support such activities provided they deliver sufficient savings. The systems optimisation programme cannot be used to purchase/replace control systems e.g, lighting control systems or building management systems.

Boiler tuning

Boilers should be tuned at least every 6 months. This simple process that takes a couple of hours and can cut up to 25% from your energy bill.

EECA can help you introduce and lock in a 6-monthly boiler tuning schedule, and will fund up to 40% of the costs of each tune-up. We’ll fund up to $5,000 a year per site for tuning boilers, which can be solid, liquid or gas fuelled. You’ll also get a savings report and suggestions on how to be more efficient. You must commit to 6-monthly tunings over a 2-year period.

• Technical guide: boiler tuning [PDF 407KB]

Related programmes:

Knowing whether your existing system is running efficiently is a key energy management principle and there is little value in tweaking a system that operates near its peak performance. To get the best value from the systems optimisation programme it may be best to utilise some of the following options first:

• Energy Audits – to benchmark site/system efficiency
• Monitoring & Targeting – to measure existing energy performance for a site/system   and measure the improvement
• Performance Advice for Public Buildings - to lock in efficiency during design and construction.

Co-benefits

Systems optimisation can have other benefits such as:

• reduced maintenance costs
• improved working conditions and safety for your staff with better lighting and heating
• greater awareness of where your energy is going
• reducing your carbon footprint.

 Heating, ventilation & air conditioning
 Building management systems

• Systems optimisation brochure [PDF 149KB]