BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Technology is rapidly evolving, enabling huge leaps in how buildings can be made smarter. This is particularly key in the continued drive towards better sustainability and energy savings
within the built environment. Here, Sharan Avati, CEO and founder of Cosmicnode – experts in developing scalable, reliable wireless lighting controls for buildings and industries – explores this further
W
hile a variety of factors have led to research and development into creating smarter
buildings, the need for greater sustainability and better energy efficiency has been one of the biggest drivers. This sits alongside the demand for energy savings and lower carbon emissions, both from an economical and environmental perspective.
DATA DRIVEN BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS In the forefront of technological progress lies a suite of systems designed to revolutionise energy management and slash operational costs. These systems, rooted in data and occupancy analytics, drive the optimal functioning of buildings. Built upon interoperability and data-driven
intelligence, they grant building managers unprecedented insights and control over every facet of a structure. From HVAC and air quality to lighting, security, occupancy tracking, and emergency lighting protocols, these systems provide a unified platform for maintenance and management. By amalgamating comprehensive data collection with real-time insights, they offer unparalleled visibility into every corner of the building, enhancing efficiency and streamlining operations.
LUMINAIRE DATA Taking this a stage further is the creation of enterprise-level cloud connected management systems. These offer advanced lighting control and monitoring solutions for large-scale lighting installations. In this situation, every luminaire can become a digital data point – allowing for in-depth monitoring, reporting and predictive maintenance by the facilities management team. Extracting this data from a luminaire enables
better management of the lighting system, including planned maintenance, scheduled replacements based on operation and knowing when a light is and isn’t in use.
COMPLETE OVERSIGHT Using luminaires as part of smarter and more intelligent buildings is just the beginning. The Cosmicnode wireless lighting network provides network infrastructure within buildings, enabling connectivity and data collection from every light point. It enables the collection and analysis of various building metrics such as temperature,
humidity, CO2 levels, noise levels, and more. Facilities managers can also monitor other systems across the workspace to ensure optimal conditions for healthy, happy occupants. Air quality, humidity and temperature, as well as lux levels, all play a key role in ensuring the environment supports those working within it to be healthy and more productive. Demonstrating the importance of this is a report from UKGBC and the World Green Building
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Council which explored the factors of a healthy and productive workplace. The main elements were good indoor air quality, thermal comfort, good lighting conditions and the minimisation of unwanted noise. Building automation can play a key role in
achieving this; these systems can be connected through smart sensors to collect key environmental metrics. This information can be used by building managers to make key decisions – based on real- time and historical insights. The tracking and improved oversight of these assets undoubtedly facilitates better management of the building through the elimination of inefficiencies. Furthermore, by being able to control, regulate and optimise these operational aspects of a building, it has never been simpler to adapt the working conditions. Building automation also makes it easier to respond to concerns and requests for change – something that historically has required costly and lengthy interventions to deliver. This level of automation across the different – yet equally important – areas of a building’s environment is made possible through the integration of IoT-enabled smart systems. This technology helps to achieve improved operational efficiency alongside significant energy savings. In practice, the implementation of occupancy sensors that activate HVAC and lighting systems only when they are needed contributes to both energy and cost savings. Automated control of lighting, temperature and air quality – based on occupancy levels – further assists in maximising energy usage. Combining these together therefore leads to impressive results.
THE POWER OF DAYLIGHT HARVESTING An increasingly popular aspect of building automation is daylight harvesting. This uses photo sensors to measure the amount of light intensity both from natural and artificial light sources in the environment. A closed loop algorithm can use measured light levels to adjust for expected LUX output. Daylight harvesting in a building can result
in an extra 10% to 30% reduction in energy usage. Beyond energy conservation, daylight harvesting offers various advantages, such as prolonging the lifespan of luminaires and extending the interval between lamp replacements, which can significantly reduce the operating costs of buildings.
BUILDING AUTOMATION IN SITU Showcasing the benefits of building automation, Cosmicnode recently undertook a smart lighting project for a furniture factory facility in Houthalen, Belgium. The client wanted a smart lighting solution for the entire factory based on occupancy detection and daylight harvesting.
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Summer 2024 EMBRACIN
BUILDINGS SUSTAIN
The facility team wanted to schedule the lighting based on factory operation times and remotely manage and monitor the lighting system. Cosmicnode’s Infinity IoT platform was deployed
to control and monitor the lamps. This closed-loop system automatically infers the window orientation and the cloudiness levels of the current sky to predict incoming daylight. It then sets the optimal light levels in the office space. Lighting calendars/schedulers were also configured
in line with the client requirement, and lamps were grouped into multiple zones such as meeting rooms, work desk and common areas. This enabled the lighting levels to be set accordingly – not only reducing energy by not over-illuminating some areas, but also in response to comfortable lighting levels for tasks such as screen-based work. The results were, as to be expected, highly
positive. As well as a 15-18% reduction in energy consumption, there was a reported improvement in employee health and wellness. In addition, the introduction of this smart lighting solution helped the client achieve their sustainability goal of reducing their carbon footprint.
GREATER BENEFITS There are further benefits that can be achieved by utilising IoT data analytics, specifically around improving maintenance practices and enabling predictive decision-making to achieve cost savings. Predictive maintenance proactively manages equipment health by monitoring factors like battery life, luminaire condition and temperature. This data-driven approach allows for early detection of potential failures, preventing downtime and optimising maintenance schedules. By anticipating equipment needs, managers gain greater autonomy to prioritise tasks and ensure smooth operations.
SMART BUILDINGS = COMPLIANT BUILDINGS The ready availability of these data analytics also enables building managers to stay ahead of regulatory and compliance procedures that are often a key part of their role. Being able to efficiently
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