Southern Methodist University (SMU) is a private research university with 12,000 students, faculty, and staff. It is a leading private research institution in Dallas, Texas, committed to achieving greater energy savings and operational efficiency while addressing deferred maintenance. Working with Siemens, SMU has transformed its campus to meet the evolving needs of its students, faculty, and staff by operating smarter today and preparing for the future. 
In 2017, SMU embarked on its journey to create a smart, more efficient campus. The aim was to improve the campus experience for students, faculty, and staff, drastically enhance energy management and use, and improve systems reliability. At the same time, the institution wanted to address deferred maintenance while reducing operating and maintenance costs.

Siemens assisted SMU in creating a roadmap to achieve their vision, from upgrading critical infrastructure to investing in data collection and enhanced campus-wide controls and building management. Even greater efficiencies are realized through data-driven analytics, remote monitoring, and troubleshooting. On average, SMU has saved $2.5 million annually with the energy management program, while also enhancing campus comfort and reliability. A natural gas and electricity hedging program has protected the university against price volatility and major weather events for budget stability. With the goal of operating more efficiently as a smart campus, SMU implemented data-driven energy management and maintenance programs. These programs are based on an integrated campus management system with campus-wide submetering and sensors. 

Currently, Siemens and the SMU facilities team manage operations and maintenance, including building automation, central utility plant, fire & life safety, and security/access control systems. Now, SMU can better focus resources and benefit from a sustainable financial model, which supports the university’s priorities and growth going forward. Infrastructure modernization and digitalization, via Siemens Xcelerator, along with building a new central plant, SMU’s campus control systems were also modernized. Extensive metering and sensors for real-time data capture now supports a higher level of automation and digitalization for data-driven insights.

• Desigo® CC building management system and standardized sequences of operations for building and mechanical components.
• Replacement of end-of-life air handling units and other dated mechanical equipment.
• Demand Flow® chilled water optimization technology.

Data-driven maintenance improves staff productivity and optimizes performance. With the power of digitalization, the SMU facilities team now has transparency and actionable insights into the performance of more than 25,000 mechanical equipment components for a proactive approach to maintenance - even finding issues before they become problems.

• Campus-wide fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) with Building X helps identify issues and ensure efficient maintenance and Building X Operations Manager allows on-the-go data for key insights.
• Advanced automation and analytics to continuously optimize performance and operations.

• Remote monitoring and troubleshooting for fast resolution.

Strategic energy management delivers quantifiable benefits. SMU’s integrated top-tier energy management program streamlines operations and maintenance, but also improves system reliability and equipment lifecycles. Key components are:

• Remote and cloud-based performance monitoring and analytics for fast, efficient troubleshooting - without rolling a truck.
• A strategic energy supply, hedging, and budget risk management program to protect the university from dramatic price volatility and major weather events for cost predictability and stability in an area of the country where brownouts are common.