Banco Davivienda Salvadoreño

In 2008 Authorized Dealer MP Service began installing Reliable Controls building automation solutions at the bank’s financial center and in more than 40 branches across El Salvador to manage HVAC equipment, energy monitoring, indoor air quality, water consumption, smoke monitoring, data center management, and more. Over the years MP Service has extended the scope of the original project, and today two branches are certified LEED Gold by the US Green Building Council.

Project highlights:

• Cumulative savings of USD$1,760,000 and more than 11 gigawatt hours of electricity use, equivalent to 2,835 tons of CO₂, since the project began.
• Electricity consumption saved in the first year of implementation was around 10 percent, equivalent to 708,810 kilowatt hours.
• The payback time of the investment was 2.2 years, far exceeding MP Service’s projection of 3 years.

At the start of the partnership, Banco Davivienda Salvadoreño had no building automation in place. MP Service applied the Reliable Controls ART of Building Sustainability by focusing on energy efficiency, occupant health, and real-time control and optimization of building operations. Subsequent project expansions, including the two LEED Gold–certified branches, also included renewable energy integration, water conservation, waste management, and cybersecurity. By integrating smart technologies and focusing on sustainable practices, the automation system not only fulfilled the bank’s immediate needs but also helped promote long-term sustainability, aligning with global efforts to reduce energy consumption, cut emissions, and create a healthier built environment.

MP Service used the power and flexibility of RC-Studio software to integrate third-party energy meters, a chiller, and variable refrigerant flow systems. Thanks to RC-RemoteAccess, a flexible BACnet Secure Network solution, MP Service created and managed encrypted BACnet networks without the need for additional routers or controllers, keeping the bank’s automation system safe from cyber threats and reducing its IT burden.

RC-Archive software empowers bank owners with a robust record of building performance by delivering continuous downloads of data logs to a SQL database. MP Service added RC-Reporter software to extract intelligence from that data with analytics that help facility managers improve operational efficiency.

A range of MACH-Pro controllers, including MACH-ProView LCD, MACH-ProWebCom, MACH-ProZone, and MACH-ProCom devices, are installed throughout the portfolio to control mechanical equipment and third-party devices. SMART-Sensor EPD and LPD networked-sensor solutions provide an excellent means to improve energy and operational efficiency at the level of room control.

Implementing building automation in a banking environment presents multiple challenges, including the integration of systems across different virtual local area networks, end user education, and energy cost management. With well-defined strategies and smart use of technology, MP Service easily met these challenges, leading to greater energy efficiency, security, and sustainability and providing continuous improvement of resource management.