smart building – We are reaching a new age when it comes to building construction. No longer is it simply enough for our homes and offices to provide shelter and keep us warm. Today, thanks to the evolution of technology, it’s possible to not only deliver all the services that occupants need but this can be done while making the building as efficient as possible, minimising costs and reducing the environmental impact of the building over its life. This is where smart buildings comes into play.
At its most basic, a smart building is one that is using technology to share information about what goes on in the building between systems so as to optimise the building’s performance. This information is then used to automate various processes, from heating and ventilation to air conditioning and security.
Building overheads are a significant cost for any building owner/user. However, while these are a necessary business expense, the level of spend is often wasteful because it’s not intelligently applied. So, lights may be on in unused rooms or spaces heated when there are no people around to enjoy the warmth. The main motivation behind the smart building is to avoid this kind of wasteful use of energy and resources, both to cut cost and to improve energy efficiency.
The main features of smart building
Systems are connected
The most fundamental feature of a smart building is that the core systems within it are linked. So, water meters, pumps, fire alarms, power, lighting etc are all connected. This is what makes a building “smart” – the ability of the systems within it to talk to one another.
The use of sensors
Sensors are an integral part of smart buildings and play an important role in collecting data to inform decisions about where to allocate resources. So, for example, footfall counters may be integrated into the building to provide information on where people are at certain times of the day and which areas are high traffic.
Automation
Information is gathered and analysed by the systems that have been put in place in a smart building – importantly, this is done constantly and in real time. This ongoing monitoring allows for automated adjustments that can control conditions across an entire building.
Data
Smart buildings generate a large volume of valuable data about their own use, which is something that regular buildings simply don’t do.
The benefits of smart buildings
They make the occupants more productive
Air quality, physical comfort, security, sanitation, lighting and even room and space availability can all be delivered at an optimum level to enable occupants to perform well.
Reducing energy consumption
Smart buildings are greener, more energy efficient and more cost effective.
There are many benefits to implementing smart systems within a building, from cost efficiency to improving the environmentally friendly credentials of the construction. Smart buildings are relatively new today but, given the wide range of benefits that they offer, will soon become the norm.
Smart buildings use Internet of Things (IoT) devices—sensors, software, online connectivity—to monitor various building characteristics, analyze the data, and generate insights around usage patterns and trends that can be used to optimize the building’s environment and operations. While smart technology gives you greater control over your building, smart building technology is much more than just advanced “command and control” mechanisms (like your building management system, or BMS).
A BMS can be programmed to turn on and off the building’s HVAC system at specific times daily based on predefined temperature levels.
make smart building
Smart Buildings technology
Smart building technology gives you more control over how you operate your HVAC. For instance, it can direct your BMS to turn the HVAC on and off as needed throughout the day, by measuring CO2 levels in real time. If CO2 levels are in line with building guidelines, the system automatically reduces the outside air intake. If CO2 levels are approaching the limit, it brings in additional outside air. Smart building analytics platforms can also factor in data from utility companies and weather data along with your building’s HVAC operating data to help you strategize about ways to reduce operating costs on a hot day. Having this degree of control over your HVAC system means you save energy and money, while still maintaining a comfortable environment for occupants.
Potential customers commonly ask if smart building technology will replace their BMS (which we know was a hefty investment); the answer is NO. Smart building systems work in conjunction with a BMS, allowing you to understand your building by monitoring building functions in real time, analyzing building data, and automating operations more strategically so you can fully optimize your operations.
Karen Make Smart Engineers Company is proud to be your guide in the field of Smart Building, Smart Hotel, Smart School, Smart Hospital, etc., by utilizing expert forces and up-to-date knowledge.
