High temperatures recorded during the summer increasingly translate into a significant rise in electricity consumption. Among air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration equipment, the need to keep buildings comfortable ends up reflected in energy costs. REN (Redes Energéticas Nacionais) recorded two consecutive historic peaks in electricity consumption for a summer period in Portugal, reaching 171.1 gigawatt-hours (GWh), surpassing the previous maximum recorded in 2022 and demonstrating the scale of this reality.
“When we face extreme temperatures, the tendency is to increase energy consumption, but this is not the solution, because more effective than intensifying consumption is ensuring that it is smarter,” says Márcia Pereira, Founder and CEO of Bandora, cited in a press release. “Buildings represent a significant portion of energy consumption, so it is precisely in them that there is one of the greatest opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce waste, always without compromising comfort,” she adds.
In this context, the Bandora, a Portuguese company pioneering the digital transformation of buildings, through Artificial Intelligence solutions that optimise their energy efficiency, presents five strategies to guarantee intelligent energy management in the hottest months.
1 | Manage climate control intelligently
HVAC systems (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) represent one of the main sources of energy consumption in buildings. Automatically adjusting climate control based on space occupancy, weather conditions and the building’s thermal behaviour allows reducing waste while safeguarding occupant comfort.
2 | Ensure the maintenance of equipment
Clogged filters, poorly calibrated equipment, or systems without periodic verification require more effort to reach the desired temperature. Preventive maintenance improves machine performance, prolongs their life, and contributes to reduced energy consumption.
3 | Take advantage of the building’s assets
Sun exposure, location and occupancy of a building influence its interior temperature. Thus, managing the conditions of spaces and taking advantage of their benefits is essential. Keeping blinds and shutters closed during the hottest hours and promoting natural ventilation in cooler periods helps reduce interior heating and decrease the need to resort to air conditioning.
4 | Invest in efficient lighting
Replacing conventional solutions with Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting continues to be one of the simplest strategies to reduce energy consumption. In addition to using less energy, these lamps produce less heat, contributing, too, to a lower need for climate control.
5 | Eliminate unnecessary consumption
Computers, screens, printers and other equipment continue to consume energy even when left in standby mode. Turning off machines and monitoring their consumption helps eliminate waste that, accumulated over time, has a significant impact on the energy bill.
With the trend of climate change and, consequently, increasingly frequent and intense heat waves in the summer, investing in the energy efficiency of buildings represents an opportunity to reduce costs, lower emissions and increase the resilience of infrastructures.
