BUILDING CONTROLS Let’s think differently about our buildings
Technology has developed rapidly and the way we use and operate buildings is constantly evolving. Building Management Systems (BMS) are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and we should now be looking at ways we can make our buildings more sustainable, autonomous, and human-centric. Simon Ward, director of sales, UK & Ireland – Distech Controls has some insight
W
e are in a completely new world when it comes to technology. The changes we have seen take place in the development of
technology in the last five years, even in the last year, have been transformative and have taken place far quicker than I believe many people expected. So, what does it mean for our commercial
properties and Building Management Systems (BMS)?
The advancements in technology have allowed us to look at our buildings in a different way and there are three key trends emerging that are driving changes in how we use and operate our buildings – we want buildings that are more sustainable, can operate autonomously and those that place occupants at the heart of each process. Let’s take a look at sustainability first. It is certainly a hot topic in the building industry and beyond. The issue of emissions and the subsequent impact they have on people and the planet is now coming into focus and their importance is continuing on an upward trend. According to research the building industry is responsible for 40% of energy consumption and about a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. The construction and building controls industries have an opportunity to support companies reduce carbon emissions and ensure buildings are as energy efficient as possible. Through HVAC controls alone, it is estimated that energy savings and subsequent emission reductions of up to 30% are possible. When you then introduce data collection through sensors and controllers, it can be used allows for impressive energy management.
Delivering on these aims will help building owners reduce energy and operational costs, it will help facility managers save energy and time, whilst consulting engineers can offer their clients reductions in energy usage and costs. The second area is based on autonomous buildings. An autonomous building is a
building that can make its own decisions in order to optimise user experience, energy consumption and its maintenance over time. There are two major influences on an autonomous building that of the users inside of the building but also its integration into the larger ecosystem. We want buildings that can self-adapt to people and systems inside the building but also can react to demands or conditions external to the building systems. Autonomous buildings build on the concept of a smart building. Autonomous buildings will not only identify the problem but also take actions to solve it. But, why is building
autonomy so important? Autonomous buildings will allow building owners to enhance the value of their assets, it will help facility managers to streamline processes and save time and it will give consulting engineers and integrators the opportunity to future-proof their clients’ buildings.
Let’s finally look at human-centric buildings. It is estimated that we spend approximately 90% of our time in enclosed spaces. The recent pandemic has made us more aware of the importance of well-designed buildings that operate efficiently and that place health and wellness at the forefront. Occupants want to live and work in healthy and trustworthy spaces and having a fully functional BMS to ensure wellbeing is critical. New building standards such as WELL have recently emerged to guide people to create better spaces for the occupants, for example various sensors such as CO2 and VOC are now recommended. With the use of new building control technology we can understand more and adapt to the occupant journey. For example, setting the right conditions in a meeting room if it is booked for a specific time but also, if the room is cancelled, changing those settings and turning off the lights. By ensuring their buildings are human-centric, owners can enhance tenant retention, facility managers and consulting engineers can aid in the wellbeing of occupants. However, none of this is possible without a fully functional BMS and data. There are platforms coming to market that offer system integrators, facilities managers and buildings owners far more data about their buildings. For instance, the new ECLYPSE Building Intelligence is a microservices-based software platform which facilitates the design, deployment, operation and maintenance of buildings with unprecedented efficiency. The vision for ECLYPSE Building Intelligence is to make buildings more sustainable, autonomous and human-centric, whilst ensuring it is easy and simple to deploy and also leveraging the power of a data model. This type of software could be a game changer for system integrators who can leverage unparalleled openness and interoperability to deliver advanced digital services. Buildings implementing intelligent solutions ensure the highest level of occupant satisfaction and minimal operational costs to maintain the highest level of asset value.
8 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JUNE 2023 Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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