In order to meet the company’s environmental commitment, Turner turned to Vitality asking them to design and implement smart sensing systems which create granular utility data monitored and viewed on real time dashboards. This allowed Turner to make data driven decisions that optimize utility spend and water consumption on construction projects.
The design is simple, cost effective, and pays for itself through energy and construction cost savings. Each construction site is sub-metered, Vitality software queries the sub-meter creating an extremely accurate visualization of how and when power and water are used. By submetering different aspects of the site such as welding circuits, construction trailers, lighting circuits, etc. Turner has access to dynamic readings which they can use to determine solutions for identified problems and issues, helping them improve their energy efficiency. For example, from power data Turner has identified that during evening and night hours many construction sites would use more energy than anticipated even though they were unoccupied, because lights and equipment were still energized. Armed with this information, they were able to power down certain parts of the sites during non-construction hours reducing energy consumption.
On the water side Turner has also been able to use data from submetering to monitor and react to anomalies created when spigots are left on or when leaks occur, significantly improving construction site water usage.
The ability to monitor actual energy and water consumption has improved construction costs and provided Turner with the option to pass said cost savings onto their clients. As an added benefit, once the construction is complete the meters can be left in place so building owners can then monitor their own water and energy consumption, use predictive analytics for equipment maintenance and identify possible energy conservation measures.
