Parents and teachers depend on schools to provide a safe, comfortable environment for students while balancing energy and operational efficiency. Building automation systems are key to achieving these goals.

Are you a school administrator or facility manager? Installing a fully integrated Reliable Controls solution can empower you to offset your energy costs, create healthy classrooms, and safeguard occupants. Here’s how.

HVAC: Creating a comfortable learning environment

With a Reliable Controls building automation system, you can improve energy efficiency and air quality, reduce resource consumption, and detect equipment failure before it happens. Implementing intelligent control solutions in schools also has physiological and psychological benefits for students and staff, including improved mood and learning, increased energy, reduced fatigue, fewer headaches, fewer sick days, and reduced eye strain.

• Building control systems are especially impactful when you need to manage a campus of buildings collectively. Connect multiple BACnet building control systems into a single enterprise with RC-WebView software, a browser-based building management solution that streamlines operations by providing centralized control, reducing manual intervention, and enhancing accountability. This time-saving tool simplifies complex tasks, enabling efficient monitoring, advanced scheduling, faster decision-making, and improved energy management across your campus.
• Readable, reliable analytics delivered to your inbox or integrated with your control system are essential for effective building management. RC-Reporter software extracts intelligence from your building data, providing actionable insights that enhance decision-making and drive operational efficiency. This powerful platform transforms raw data into meaningful reports, enabling you to optimize performance and stay ahead of potential issues. Additionally, these insightful reports are easily shared with stakeholders to keep them informed and demonstrate the effectiveness of your building management strategies.
• Streamline your IT management and enhance data communications security with RC-RemoteAccess, a flexible BACnet Secure Network software solution. This tool simplifies the creation and management of encrypted BACnet networks in your facility, eliminating the need for additional routers or controllers. By providing a cost-effective and straightforward approach to data security, RC-RemoteAccess offers peace of mind, ensuring your network remains secure while reducing complexity and cost.
• Integrated fault detection and diagnostics (IFDD) let you get ahead of maintenance before catastrophic failure. By proactively addressing potential issues, IFDD helps you optimize building performance in real time, extend equipment life, reduce system downtime, and improve operational efficiency, ultimately saving you time and money.
• Reliable Controls MACH-ProView LCD, SMART-Sensor, SMART-Sensor EPD, and SPACE-Sensor Temperature devices offer optional volatile organic compound and particulate matter sensors. These sensors provide critical air-quality measurements essential for maintaining a comfortable and healthy environment for your students. By monitoring air quality, you can ensure a healthier indoor environment, contributing to overall well-being, comfort, and improved performance.

Lighting: Enhancing focus and efficiency

Lighting plays a crucial role in students’ ability to concentrate and perform well, but lighting systems can also be one of the largest energy consumers in a school. Integrating lighting into your building automation system with the MACH-ProLight advanced lighting controller empowers you to save money and improve learner outcomes in the following ways: 

• By using sensors and timers, the Reliable Controls system can adjust lighting levels based on natural light availability and occupancy.
• Automated lighting can be programmed to switch off in unoccupied areas like empty classrooms and hallways, significantly reducing energy waste. Energy-efficient LED lighting can further boost savings.
• Research shows lighting quality affects students’ ability to focus and learn. The MACH-ProLight can ensure lighting is maintained at optimal levels through strategies like daylight harvesting that reduce eye strain and enhance academic performance.

Security: Safeguard students and staff

Ensuring the safety of students and staff is a top priority for any school. A building automation system can enhance security measures by providing a comprehensive, integrated solution.

• MACH-CheckPoint and MACH-Sentry controllers, paired with RC-Passport software, can automate and monitor access control to different parts of the school, allowing only authorized individuals to enter certain areas.
• Integrated security cameras and sensors can be monitored through the Reliable Controls system, providing real-time surveillance and quick response to potential threats.
• In the event of an emergency like a fire or security breach, the building automation system can trigger alarms, lock or unlock doors, or notify emergency services.

Building automation systems are more than a technological upgrade; they’re an investment in the future. By integrating and optimizing HVAC, lighting, and security systems with a Reliable Controls solution, schools can create safer, more sustainable, more efficient environments for students to learn and grow.

Find out today how our simple, flexible, sustainable building automation solutions can help improve efficiency and safety in your facility.