AIM Updates Make It Easier to Customize Automated Lab Energy Audits

Looking for a way to identify energy improvements that are tailored to your lab building? Recent updates to the Actionable Insights and Measures (AIM) Report software have made I2SL’s automated energy audit tool more comprehensive, customizable, and impactful than ever. With these improvements, a free demo featuring more measures, and a 25 percent discount on all subscriptions, owners and consultants can find even more opportunities to save on energy and operating costs in lab buildings.

The AIM software updates include new measures, upgraded calculations, additional configuration options for buildings, and features to address controls dysfunction and recommissioning. The latest version includes 13 new energy efficiency measures, for a total of 39 measures representing the most impactful energy-saving opportunities in lab buildings. More case studies have also been added, bringing the full library to more than 100.

Over time, the degradation of control system performance can have a significant impact on energy consumption and on a building's ability to support the use of energy-efficient control strategies. To spotlight this issue and highlight opportunities for improvement, the AIM software now accounts for controls dysfunction and includes energy efficiency measures covering recommissioning and monitoring-based commissioning initiatives for lab facilities.

Additionally, users can now designate up to six lab zone types and customize equipment loads and fume hood counts for each. A set of intelligent assumptions allocates lab space, fume hoods, envelope loads, and equipment loads between lab zones, and users can then adjust the assumptions as needed to represent their own facilities. The new envelope loads within AIM incorporate both conduction and solar loading components, and envelope quality is rated relative to the building’s climate zone.

To get started with AIM, create a free account in the Lab Benchmarking Tool (LBT) and enter some basic data about your building (about a dozen pieces of information). You can then test-drive the AIM software at no cost using the demo version of the tool, which now includes seven energy-saving measures. The AIM Quick Start Guide lists the data you need to gather, or if you don’t have a specific building in mind, you can use the sample building data provided.

Ready to subscribe? You can save 25 percent off your subscription price if you enter the code UPGRADE25 through December 15. I2SL members receive an additional discount; visit the Member Benefits page for a code to access your full membership discount.