Although highly-trained personnel are required to administer and maintain the system, reductions in occupant complaints and early identification of equipment malfunctions and inefficiencies can result in lower overall maintenance costs. Most BAS installers offer system administration service contracts. Typically, system problems can be resolved by remotely located technicians connected to the system via modem. The Center for Analysis and Dissemination of Demonstrated Energy Technologies estimates typical lighting energy savings from a BAS in an office at 30 to 50 percent. The incremental energy savings are the result of system integration features such as occupancy sensor control of the HVAC system.
Additional savings come from reduced maintenance costs and equipment downtime.
The monitoring and reporting capabilities that a BAS provides help to quickly identify and address building inefficiencies. Also, if a BAS provides enhanced communication and cooperation between the building and the electric utility, advanced load management strategies could reduce energy bills further. Although the term BAS emphasizes automated control, the eventual success of such systems may lie in the manual control options that they make possible. Professor Walter Kroner of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Center for Architectural Research notes that manual controls increase employee satisfaction and productivity. His own study revealed a three percent increase in productivity when office workers were given individual workstation HVAC and lighting controls.