Schneider Electric Canada has partnered with Ryerson University to build the Smart Building Analytics Living Lab, the first laboratory of its kind in Canada.
The new lab will provide Ryerson students in engineering, architectural science and computer and data science programs with access to tools to develop, test and optimize modern technologies and approaches in building management. It will be used to demonstrate savings in energy consumption and in capital and operating expenses for buildings of all sizes. Schneider Electric donated $1 million in kind to Ryerson to design and build the new lab.
“Our partnership with Ryerson University and the building of the Smart Building Analytics Living Lab reflects the need for advancement of data analytics and the use of Internet of Things technologies to lower energy use in urban areas by providing higher building efficiencies,” said Juan Macias, senior vice president of digital energy solutions/prosumer at Schneider Electric, in a press release. “The research done here will benefit buildings and their owners in Canada and throughout the world. We are proud to be partners with Ryerson University on such an important initiative.”
As Canada looks to achieve its energy- and carbon-reduction goals in alignment with the COP21 outcomes, the laboratory will help increase knowledge and experience in key areas, including improved understanding of emerging HVAC systems; the optimization and performance improvement of existing HVAC systems; and new data analytics algorithms, predictive models and machine learning approaches to support building performance improvement in real time, with both human effects and environmental conditions taken into consideration.
The Smart Building Analytics Living Lab will be used as a direct connection into real world applications of building management systems and energy management. From the laboratory, the Ryerson team will connect to building control systems using Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Building software platform, which includes access control, lighting control, security, energy and HVAC systems.
“The convergence of Information Technology and Operational Technology means bringing together applications and devices in innovative ways, and tying together systems that have primarily operated in isolation,” said Susan Uthayakumar, Country President, Canada, Schneider Electric. “Along with growth in numbers of devices and increased functionality, bringing these systems together introduces integration on a new scale. The Ryerson lab is a great forum to test these new integration possibilities.”
By introducing new technologies and integrating the IoT into new and existing designs, both Schneider Electric and Ryerson will be able to test these new technologies in real-world applications, in real time.
“The new Ryerson University Smart Building Analytics Living Lab will be a one-of-a-kind space for our faculty and students. Using the latest data analytics and IoT technologies, it will help them understand energy use in buildings like never before,” said Dr. Mohamed Lachemi, President and Vice-Chancellor of Ryerson University. “The lab will become a powerful tool in helping to reduce energy use in urban areas and combat climate change here in Canada and around the world. We are glad to work with Schneider Electric in this endeavour and look forward to what we can accomplish together.”
The laboratory will be located at Ryerson’s 111 Bond St. building in Toronto and is expected to open in late 2019.
Pictured from left to right: Adrian Thomas (VP, Buildings), Tom Duever (Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, Ryerson University), Jenn McArthur (Assistant Professor, Department of Architectural Science, Ryerson University), Juan Macias (SVP Digital Energy Solutions / Prosumer), Dr. Mohamed Lachemi (President and Vice-Chancellor of Ryerson University), Steven Liss (Vice-President, Research and Innovation, Ryerson University), Ian Mishkel (Vice-President, University Advancement and Alumni Relations, Ryerson University), Alan Fung (Associate Professor, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ryerson University) and Bala Venkatesh (Academic Director, Centre for Urban Energy, Ryerson University)
