SMART BUILDINGS


Control innovations are revolutionising energy efficiency in buildings


The latest innovations in smart buildings control and automation systems are empowering building managers to better manage their energy consumption and overall carbon footprint, as Fabio Mercurio from ABB Electrification’s Smart Buildings Division explains.


Fabio Mercurio


Global head of strategy, sustainability & portfolio management ABB Electrification’s Smart Buildings Division


www.abb.com T


he mass migration of people from rural areas to cities continues to gather pace. The United Nations forecasts


that more than two-thirds (68%) of the world’s population will reside in urban areas by 2050, up from just 55% today – which equates to another 2.5 billion city dwellers by mid-century. This trend represents both a challenge and an opportunity for urban planners and the buildings and construction industry as they look to satisfy rising demand for commercial and residential buildings, while simultaneously limiting energy consumption and CO₂ emissions from the built environment. Buildings account for about 30% of


energy usage and 26% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Ensuring smart and sustainable functionality is embedded at the beginning of a build – from design to construction – is therefore a key weapon in the fight against climate change. Retrofitting is also crucial, particularly in Europe, where roughly 40% of buildings were constructed before the 1960s. What do we mean by a ‘smart’ building? The term refers to any facility where internal systems are measured and controlled by an automated, centralised system, including heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), physical security, electrical, lighting, plumbing, fire alarms, water, elevators, and more.


Solutions to emissions The concept of a ‘smart’ building is not new; architects and developers have been installing separate systems to control lighting and HVAC for decades. Now, however, web-based platforms allow these systems to integrate with each other, delivering a single view of how efficiently a building operates. With this data, managers can take steps to optimise use, reducing waste and costs.


Coupled with this, the electrification EIBI | SEPTEMBER 2024


is backed by the likes of Apple, Google, Amazon and Samsung, among others, to boost the interoperability between smart home devices and platforms. Along with Thread, the wireless


protocol that allows all devices to seamlessly speak to each other, and ABB’s KNX technology, the Matter open standard for building automation allows a range of smart home devices, products and technologies to operate in harmony, offering homeowners ease of use.


This emphasis on interoperability


of homes and buildings is accelerating to cater for the increased power demands on domestic infrastructure, everything from heat pumps, electric vehicles (EVs) and 5G, to renewable energy such as wind and solar photovoltaics (PV). The International Energy Agency expects low emission sources to account for almost half of the world’s electricity generation as soon as 2026.


The buildings of the future,


therefore, will be sustainable, cost- effective, comfortable spaces where digital and automation solutions like AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) enable managers, employees and residents to take control of energy consumption and emissions from a single app.


Brobyholm – a design for life Looking at the site in Brobyholm, a new prototype community near the Swedish capital of Stockholm – these will be the first buildings in the world to access a single holistic smart home solution, with all products and devices connected via the Samsung SmartThings app. The property assets are managed with IoT installation, right down to the appliances and energy generation, with the apps integrated into Brobyholm’s own property management platform, where they ‘talk’ holistically with each other. The first-of-a-kind integrated


system is designed to cover every need: security, media, lighting, blinds, door entry, electricity outlets, energy, appliances, heating, ventilation, HVAC, sensors, cameras, TV, and energy


management. Using insights from the connected devices on their phone, residents can manage their total energy usage, from switching off lights remotely to EV charging. The benefits don’t end there. The energy management system controls the main electrical assets, as well as gas and water, to optimise home-energy flows. In addition to the data collected from each household, forecast PV production, grid tariffs and consumption patterns are used to balance the grid across the community through virtual energy sharing, reducing costs for residents.


Matter of interoperability The internal systems at Brobyholm will leverage, and are made possible by, the Matter industry standard. Matter is the connecting layer within apps and


Equipment installed at the Brobyholm community in Sweden, part of a range of assets residents can control through a property management platform


also extends to commercial buildings. In July, German electrical engineering giant BAUER selected a powerful and flexible system that provides comprehensive and efficient energy management solutions for the control technology networking in its new complex in Berlin’s ‘Silicon Valley’. The range of open standard protocols enabled the client to integrate components from different manufacturers and meant the existing ventilation technology from the main building could be connected to the new building's control and automation systems.


Collaborate to innovate Next to smart technology systems – and of equal importance – is collaboration. To this end, in 2021, ABB announced its investment in and partnership with Montreal-based start-up BrainBox AI, which develops solutions that help reduce energy costs and emissions from commercial HVAC systems. Through this collaboration, the


companies are combining their various digital, energy management, and smart building solutions, to provide even greater visibility of a building’s operational performance. In addition to enabling up to 25% reductions in energy costs and 20–40% lower emissions, BrainBox AI’s deep learning software increases occupant comfort and extends the life of HVAC equipment. Projects and partnerships such


as these demonstrate the huge potential of technology to decarbonise infrastructure, and for smart buildings to adapt to the demands of their users, cutting energy use and emissions, and future-proofing the urban built environment for generations to come. ■


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