Installing a Building Automation System (BAS) in City facilities has many advantages, from giving building operators the ability to control their buildings more efficiently to helping the City reduce its energy consumption. All Civic Centres, Arenas, Community Centres and Pools (over 100 facilities) have new or upgraded BAS systems.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
With the installation of a BAS, building operators can manage the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) more efficiently, diagnose problems and take corrective action immediately; they can also increase the temperature in a building much faster.

The BAS software can be programmed to deal with certain conditions (such as increasing the building's temperature set point during a smog episode). The building operator can also, by a stroke of a key, switch from normal operating conditions to other conditions, i.e., Demand Response.

Demand Response Pilot Program
As part of the increasing need to control energy use during high demand periods, Toronto Hydro Energy (THEnergy) has installed demand-dispatching devices - that operate on a wireless paged signal - in City Hall and Scarborough Civic Centre in 2008, to test demand response capabilities. These devices will enable building operators, in coordination with THEnergy, to reduce the facility's energy demand at times of high prices or peak system demand. There will be no cost to the City and any information obtained during the pilot program will be shared with the City of Toronto.

BAS and lighting integration
Lighting was integrated into the BAS system in City Hall, Scarborough Civic Centre and North York Civic Centre, so building operators deal with just one operating system's software in the building. This simplifies training for facility operators and greatly improves the likelihood that systems will be scheduled appropriately to suit varying conditions. It also helps occupants in the facility to override the system to switch lights on if they are working during periods when the lighting systems are normally off.