Wellbeing in buildings


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Making positive changes through smart tech


Jamie Cameron, director of digital solutions at Johnson Controls explores how smart technology can help businesses adapt their buildings to best support employee wellbeing while meeting environmental goals


O


ver the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us felt the benefits of working from home. Remote working allowed employees to


make adjustments as and when they were needed; such as turning the heating up or down, or opening a window for fresh air. As a result, these personalised environments afforded employees the ability to focus and concentrate better. In fact, a third of UK business leaders agree that homeworking visibly boosted productivity through 2020/21. Now we have entered the age of hybrid working


and are sharing spaces with colleagues again. Employees who have become used to the comfort of their own homes are far more discerning about their workplaces, and see a workplace that is sensitive to the needs of its workforce as an imperative, not a preference. They are also thinking about the future far more by prioritising a company’s environmental policies. Almost two-thirds of UK office workers have stated that a company with strong environmental policies is a company they would be more willing to work for.


A renewed focus on safety


As a first step, business leaders need to ensure the continued safety of the people in their buildings post-pandemic. Though the vaccines have softened the virus’s risks, we mustn’t add to the concerns of workers still worried about their own health, or the health of a friend or family member. Instead, installing smart technologies such as skin temperature screening, touchless environments and UV-C lighting can help to further mitigate the spread of the virus and other infections. With robust,


24 January 2023


recognisable health & safety measures in place, people can enjoy the freedom to come to work and give their all—without worrying about repercussions. This, in turn, can help businesses with overall output as staff sick days can be lowered. The pandemic’s renewed focus on workplace


welfare also coincides with a rush of new research into its impact on productivity. Take air, for instance. A recent study shows that concentration and cognitive abilities of office workers is significantly affected when air quality improves or subsides. Participants had slower response times and reduced accuracy on a series of cognitive tests when exposed to increased concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and lower ventilation rates. To maximise productivity, managers can look to smart mixed-air HVAC systems and portable HEPA filters to increase outdoor air circulation and reduce airborne contaminants.


Smart technology within the workplace


Previously, workers were forced to adapt themselves to their workplace, rather than adapt their workplace to them. But with the advent of smart technologies, this no longer has to be the case. Smartphone apps that connect to a smart building’s digital infrastructure now give occupants the power to perform everyday activities to their taste. This includes everything from adjusting heating and lighting, to booking private conference rooms, to moving through the building without touchpads or badges. Equally, managers equipped with the correct data and technologies can better understand the layouts within their workplaces. Then, they can study the air change


rate for instance, and decide who sits where based on where will be healthiest for them.


Putting well-being and the environment together


A recent study has demonstrated that building decision-makers are seeing the wellbeing, safety and health of their occupants as a top priority. In five and ten years’ time, however, a greater emphasis on the environment is expected – with energy efficiency and sustainability goals taking the lead. With the UK’s Net Zero goal of 2050 on the horizon, it is vital that businesses start to transform their efficiency today, in order to meet their goals and meet the needs of millennials and Gen Z workers who are more discerning about a company’s ESG policy than ever before. Energy saving measures often improve employee


wellbeing in tandem. Smart management systems allow the energy use in a building to be monitored and optimised – improving air quality (IAQ), saving on energy, and adjusting for occupant comfort. Increasing use of natural lighting cuts electricity consumption and helps employees to produce Vitamin D; meaning workers can enjoy a well-deserved mood boost. Using AI and machine learning, smart buildings can


also predict lighting demand to prevent energy waste, gather data from weather forecasts to optimise chilled and hot water, and even monitor ever- changing utility prices to reduce overspend. Moving forward, a clear imperative for businesses


will be the wellbeing of their staff. As resignations continue to rise, corporations that invest in forward- thinking solutions will become more adaptable, and more able to boost the happiness of their employees.


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