When it comes to buildings, green is the new black. Ecological responsibility is a hot-button issue, and measures promoting energy efficiency are becoming more and more common. In the United States, buildings account for 41% of total energy consumption, and nearly 40% of all CO2 output, making them key targets for improvement.
As a result, many government initiatives offer financial and regulatory incentives for buildings that meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards. Some municipal governments are even going as far as requiring new buildings to attain LEED certification.
So, what does that mean for the building technology industry? The buildings of the future must be environmentally friendly, and technology has risen to meet the challenge. From your access control to your fire alarm, every system in your building has the potential to help your business operate more efficiently, and one major development is behind it all.
Internet of Things (IoT) advancements are revolutionizing the way we plan, construct, and maintain buildings, which represents a win for both our planet and your business.
What exactly is IoT anyway?
It sounds like a complicated buzzword, but simplicity is at the heart of IoT technology. IoT refers to devices that are connected via internet protocol (IP), enabling them to share data. Between smart speakers, thermostats, doorbells, locks, smoke detectors, and more, you likely already have several in your home.
This technology becomes even more powerful when applied to commercial buildings. Nearly all of a building’s low voltage systems are capable of communicating over IP. Security systems and climate control might not seem to have much to do with one another, but in a smart building, each system helps the others operate more efficiently.
These streamlined, integrated systems can even operate without human intervention and learn to optimize performance via Artificial Intelligence (AI). IoT is breaking down traditional technology barriers and providing a framework for a more efficient world.
Smarter Energy Consumption
When you think of energy consumption in an office building, you may think of computers and servers, but often lighting and HVAC account for more than half of a building’s energy use. With older systems, heating or cooling one room likely meant doing the same for an entire building.
In a smart building, lighting, heating, and cooling can be programmed to operate on a set schedule, according to when the building is often in use. The facility’s card access readers can even integrate with the HVAC and lighting systems to trigger when an individual swipes into the building. However, if that isn’t specific enough, occupancy sensors can be used to activate lighting and climate control for particular areas only when someone enters the room.
Data You Can Use
One of the most significant advantages of a smart building is that centralizing the “brains” of all your building’s systems creates a continuously updating database of actionable feedback. Over time, reporting allows the administrator to identify areas of the building that are using more energy than others or periods during the day when energy use peaks.
Armed with this information, building owners can make decisions from a position of strength. With data-driven improvements to energy efficiency, reliable cost savings are sure to follow. These savings can then be reinvested in other ways, such as implementing new communication technology to improve overall productivity.
Whether you’re cost-justifying budget allotments or applying for grants and certifications, constant reporting means that no guesswork is required.
Better still, with the help of an able technology partner, the advantages of an IoT framework can be applied much more broadly. The prevalence of IoT-enabled technologies provides a roadmap for more widespread connectivity. Businesses can reap the benefits of a building in which all their systems – from security and IT to audio visual systems and more – integrate and can be controlled using everyday devices like smartphones.
A Practical Choice for Any Business
For years, many small to medium-sized businesses have found themselves priced out of the building automation market. Traditional building automation systems can be cost-prohibitive and often do not show significant ROI for several years after purchase. As a result, they were primarily a fixture in large buildings owned by large enterprise companies.
By contrast, an IoT-equipped smart building costs significantly less to equip and operate, while still providing a massive boost in convenience and energy efficiency. This leaner, greener future is attainable for businesses of all kinds, and getting on board is a no-brainer.
