The world is changing. People today are quite accustomed to change, especially when it comes to technology. The change in technology has made the lives of people more comfortable and convenient. Technology allows us to choose the best accessible options that will suit our lifestyle and needs. In the past, people are obsessed with effective space utilization, but today, smart utilization of a space has become a trend.
Nowadays, builders are keen on making the infrastructure smart, as smart buildings have become more sustainable and not to mention more convenient. Smart buildings are more energy efficient – generating more power more than they consume. As a result, it doesn’t just eliminate frequent power failures but saves energy costs in the process. Non-energy benefits can often outweigh the savings of energy from applications such as space utilization, process improvement, asset tracking, business intelligence, and many more. Here are some benefits of having smart building:
- Reduce energy consumption
Smart buildings consume less energy which means, less energy cost. This translates into a more practical approach to going green.
- Improve building efficiency
The technology used in smart buildings can identify overused and underused areas giving the opportunity to optimize space utilization, which can lead to more growth and can save money.
- Increase productivity
Smart buildings are created to give its occupant a more comfortable experience. They keep people healthy and safe, making them more productive at work.
- Predictive maintenance
It’s easier to detect building performance with smart technology, allowing you to implement maintenance at the right time.
Smart building and Internet of Things (IoT)
Indeed, a smart building is the latest trend today. With technology giving us endless options, the internet of things has also become popular nowadays. The Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to physical devices around the world that are connected to the internet – collecting and sharing data. In much simpler terms, the Internet of Things is a network of sensors, meters, appliances, and devices that are capable of sending and receiving data.
For example, a smart occupancy sensor within a building can be integrated into the building’s smart network and turn ON or OFF certain or a group of lighting fixtures based on the signal received from the occupancy sensor and the programming done at the building smart system. The same occupancy sensor could detect the heat map and measure the CO2 and compute the received data to estimate the number of people in the space, then the building’s IoT system can send a command to the HVAC control system to increase the ventilation rate. This being said, you will have an idea of how the integration of the Internet of Things has changed the trend of smart buildings in the future.
The integration of the Internet of Things can be beneficial not just for the efficiency of the smart building but also for the workers. Internet of Things sensors that monitor lights, temperature, humidity, the building’s interior, and exterior lighting can alert the staff. For example, the sensors that alert cleaning staff where the area receives the most traffic during the day. The very same sensors can also help employees in their day-to-day jobs. Using some apps, employees can find a desk, get access to car parking, company gym, and adjust the heating in their workspace. These are just a few applications and benefits which employees can enjoy with the integration of the Internet of Things.