INDUSTRY COMMENT
The building controls and automation sector must not stand still
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The recent BCIA member’s conference and awards ceremony was another stunning example of how the building controls sector is leading the way in innovative technological solutions. However, Stacey Lucas, President of the BCIA, says the industry must not stand still – in fact, it must continue to innovate and advance
s highlighted by the incredible competitiveness of every award category, the industry has an extremely deep and varied talent pool and hundreds of organisations
dedicated to ensuring a greener and brighter future for the building energy management systems (BEMS) sector. Despite that, the industry mustn’t rest on its laurels. The ever-increasing need for smarter and more energy efficient buildings – alongside the demands of the ever-more climate-conscious property owners and facility managers – means those in the building controls and automation sector must continue to utilise the advancements in informatic technology.
Changing user expectations
In a highly competitive industry that’s driven by operational efficiency and user experience, innovation and moving with the times is crucial. With building owners, facility managers, and occupants expecting intuitive interfaces, easily accessible and up-to-date data, and the ability to monitor and manage energy consumption, manufacturers and industry leaders must continually evolve and enhance their products and systems to ensure ever-smarter, greener, and safer buildings.
Occupant health and comfort In recent years, the importance of wellbeing and
mental health has been heightened. As a result, there has been an increased awareness of how indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and lighting can impact health, comfort, and productivity. With smart buildings and BEMS able to optimise conditions for building occupants and ensure a more comfortable and healthier environment through the automation of lighting, heating, and ventilation, the building controls and automation sector is already playing a crucial role. However, it’s vital the industry keeps evolving to meet new expectations and standards.
Regulatory changes
With the government’s 2050 net zero target rapidly looming over the horizon, building designers and owners are already under increasing pressure to identify and implement energy-efficient systems to comply with building performance standards and regulations. That demand is only likely to intensify in the coming years, with even stricter regulations and legislation expected to be introduced. While facility managers and building owners that fail to turn to technology will fall behind competitors that align their solutions with future- ready compliance, it’s also crucial BEMS system manufacturers move with the times and design solutions for now and the future.
Integration with IoT and smart cities
With the UK seeing major population growth, it is increasingly becoming more urbanised. That
has a major impact on the built environment, with buildings often no longer isolated and now part of a larger smart city ecosystem. Consequently, efficient and reliable
interoperability between platforms and devices requires major innovation. That’s where BEMS will be able to play a major role, with technology-based decision-making, real-time data exchange, and predictive maintenance providing more comprehensive energy consumption management.
Cybersecurity
The major developments and advancements in technology are making a positive difference across the built environment, and the world in general. However, with that comes additional cybersecurity risks. In fact, as building systems become more complicated, they become more vulnerable to cyber threats.
Specifying and investing in secure
architecture, encryption, and smarter technology that ensures compliance with evolving data regulations is therefore absolutely imperative for any building owner or facility manager. As the recent BCIA awards evening showed, the building controls and automation sector finds itself in an incredible position when it comes to championing innovation. However, it’s vital we all keep pressing ahead and work together to ensure even more efficiency and sustainability opportunities in the future.
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