Tomorrow's sustainability: is smart building technology the future?

The only constant in today's world is that things move quickly – especially in the world of technology and construction. Traditional construction procedures and practices are now a thing of the past. Instead, developers are working to improve energy efficiency and the well-being of residents.

As a result, companies must constantly remain on the lookout for solutions to keep operations running smoothly while contributing to comprehensive sustainability. Technology in construction, dubbed “smart building”, is today transforming the design and construction of structures. One of the most impactful advances is the implementation of the Internet of Things (IoT), which helps connect building systems to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.

Furthermore, these smart building systems can help builders and building owners create sustainable environments through cutting-edge technologies. With all these advancements, it's important for business owners to understand exactly what smart building entails and how they are the future of sustainability in building design.

What is smart building technology?

The term “smart building technology” encompasses a wide range of devices and methods used to maintain control over a building's users and systems. Furthermore, it is a digital infrastructure that protects against technological obsolescence, ensuring the viability of the system in the future.

Simply put, smart building technology leverages the Internet of Things (IoT) and its associated devices, such as lighting and environmental controls, data collection systems, and augmented reality experiences typically controlled from a single dashboard. These technologies not only make buildings easier to use, but also reduce the carbon footprint of facilities.

How are smart buildings green?

Using data analytics, building owners or managers have the ability to monitor the energy costs and energy impacts of certain building assets, making smart buildings environmentally friendly. Technology like IBM's Envizi can help reduce carbon footprints by decreasing the energy use of various building elements.

This form of smart building turns off appliances when not in use, thus reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint. Additionally, smart buildings make it easier to monitor residents and the use of their devices. This helps to help individuals identify activities that waste energy and which they should then correct in order to reduce their carbon footprint, along with their electricity and gas bills.

What are the benefits of smart building technology?

1. Efficient Energy Use – Building management systems that access data to improve the effectiveness of systems such as lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), as well as fire and security. These systems are then actionable and accessible through smart sensors and meters.
2. Efficiency in company operations – Operations encompass a variety of elements related to the management, maintenance and protection of the structure. Primarily, business and building owners can achieve operational efficiency by automating building systems and increasing the amount of control exercised.
3. Occupant comfort – By linking smart buildings' lighting and air conditioning/heating systems to occupant behavior patterns, smart buildings help ensure comfort and ease for occupants, while also saving money.

Which companies are using smart building technologies and what are they using?

There are a multitude of technologies available to meet sustainability and ecology building goals. Many large companies already use smart building technology in their daily projects. These companies include many common household names, including:

• Cisco
• Honeywell
• IBM
• Legrand
• Panasonic
• Siemens

Some of the best smart building technologies that help create sustainable environments include:

• IoT – Builders install Internet of Things devices inside buildings and give them the potential to monitor and control parameters crucial to the health and sustainability of occupants, such as air quality and resource usage metrics.
  A facilities manager’s ability to monitor performance in real time and make decisions based on accurate information can be improved through the use of analytics-driven Artificial Intelligence. For example, data found in test dashboards records the current use of an area, the oxygen/carbon dioxide ratio in the air, infectious disease threats, and other environmental information.
• Automation – The connectivity of smart building technology’s fundamental systems is one of its defining characteristics. Connecting smart technologies, such as real-time occupancy sensors and building management systems, allows the sharing of information that automates various operations.
• Digital Mapping and Digital Twins – One of the most effective and accurate methods for implementing smart building technology is to produce a 1:1 digital clone of the building, often known as a “digital twin”. Essentially, this process creates a perfect digital copy of a building that updates in real time based on data provided by the building's physical twin and empowers building managers with unprecedented control and accuracy.
  For example, Vera from Resonai builds live simulations in the cloud that are continually updated to learn new things about their environments. This allows for the creation of extremely accurate indoor maps and navigation systems as the model adapts to actual changes in physical location.
• Fast and secure worldwide Internet connection – A reliable and constant Internet connection is obviously essential for technologies that support smart buildings. In most cases, using wired Ethernet and smart Wi-Fi coverage together makes this technology viable. Unfortunately, the presence of “online dead zones” in many structures, especially older concrete buildings, creates a very significant challenge. The value of these buildings is significantly reduced when there are areas that technology cannot correctly identify and so on. The term “smart building” refers to a set of technological advances designed to make a structure more efficient overall. However, a component of these advancements is ensuring that each section of the structure has sufficient network access.
• Augmented reality – Augmented reality is a fascinating use case for smart buildings because it can improve indoor mobility, train staff and direct maintenance to problem locations – all of which are smart building applications.
  Many construction companies and homeowners choose to use a combination of digital maps and sensors along with augmented reality to create an accurate overlay of the interior and exterior, like a portable model. This combines multiple concepts into a cohesive package that fundamentally changes how individuals interact in a 3D space.

Is smart building technology the future of sustainability?

Focusing on integration and scalability is essential to realizing the full influence of smart building technologies and sustainability in the green building sector. Although many improvements are already common practice, there is still much work to be done. IoT devices and innovations regularly surprise the world with cutting-edge technology that adds value to smart building systems. Its use cases and applications will also continue to expand.

Thanks to the global focus on the long-term viability of these technologies, particularly in the commercial construction sector, it is safe to say that the day will come when smart, energy-efficient buildings become the norm.