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Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency the Smart way
As many as 87% of building managers canvassed in a recent study said smart technologies helped keep their buildings safe during the pandemic, while a third said it was critical or essential. To continue operating, smart tech is no longer desirable – it’s necessary. That’s according to Johnson Controls UK&I digital solutions expert Billal Vindhani
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hilst understandable that health and safety is a building managers’ top priority this year, energy efficiency targets are looming
and can’t be ignored. In 10 years, sustainability will become a top priority on a path to Net Zero.
Embracing smart technology
Achieving health and safety goals and sustainability targets can go hand in hand. One example of a smart technology that focuses on both outcomes, is technologies measuring and controlling occupancy. To focus on issues like air quality and infection control, we need to be constantly monitoring spaces and now be able to predict occupancy levels. This happens through a network of IoT-enabled smart sensors throughout a building, in every meeting room, corridor, kitchen – where sensors can monitor the space performance. To make the most of these sensors, building and facilities managers need the necessary data and technologies to understand the rooms and layouts within their buildings, so they can make the most of
the building. From a health and safety perspective, they can allocate spaces according to the air change rate – deciding who works where based on where it will be healthiest for them. This ensures indoor air quality is optimal, helping limit the spread of infection.
When it comes to energy efficiency, the benefits
are huge. Think about how a smart building operates now: a room clears of people and the lights click off – with no one present, there’s no need for illumination, saving a little power. Clever. But more often than not, the projector is still running, projecting an image nobody is seeing, and the HVAC remains on, seeping unnecessary air into an empty room. Not so clever, and certainly not economical – or good for the planet. In an IoT-enabled smart building, sensors are
constantly checking the room for activity. Detecting none, they send word to a central, autonomous operating system, and in a blink of an eye, it has computed all possible sources of energy waste. It then shuts off any unnecessary systems or keeps them in a low-burden eco mode, saving energy and costs. That’s just one example – the possibilities to fully optimise a building’s performance are real.
Sustainable strategies
While smart technologies can certainly provide instant efficiency gains, they can also help to inform longer-term sustainability strategies. A building platform that gathers data from the building management system and other IoT-enabled smart technologies is the key to helping decision-makers understand where improvements need to be made. But to make the most of the solutions you implement, and not simply have a selection of point solutions working in silos across an estate, you need the tech that sits across it all. A platform that is flexible, scalable, and cloud-based – that gathers data from
disparate sources across silos, stores it securely, and standardises the data – is essential. Applications that use a platform such as this have another important benefit for energy efficiency, and longer-term sustainability goals. They help building professionals optimise their resources through predictive maintenance, extending the life of their equipment – especially HVAC equipment. IoT sensors on chillers, for example, can flag to facilities or engineering teams when upgrades or fixes are needed through a predictive layer of analytics. Furthermore, with the advancement of AI and ML you can fully automate the entire plantroom operation without human intervention. This means organisations can not only maintain a comfortable and safe environment, but they can do so efficiently, reducing a building’s environmental impact. This technology exists today, with the ability to deliver base line energy savings as well as operational efficiencies, delivering a tangible return on investment on both new and existing buildings. What’s more, it has a positive impact on employee experience, by improving the uptime and availability of critical assets.
The efficiency evolution
The implementation of smart technologies such as IoT, AI and ML can transform entire business models. They are the guiding light in improving occupant experiences while helping organisations meet both short and long-term energy efficiency and sustainability goals, majorly benefiting key stakeholders. The priority now is to ensure we can meet the sustainability targets we have set out. That starts with implementation of smart technologies to improve energy efficiency and promote a happier, and healthier planet.
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