With all of the connectivity and smart accessories making up so many of today’s objects, it should come as no surprise that buildings are receiving the same treatment. Smart buildings are already very much in existence. Thanks to the latest technological advancements, they offer a wealth of conveniences, greater efficiency, and less consumption.
Diving Further
So what exactly constitutes a “smart building”? It wasn’t all that long ago that the idea of automatically controlling the conditions of a large building was considered pure make believe. Technology has developed to the point that heating, air conditioning, and even ventilation can be changed on the fly. Traditional HVAC systems will soon seem downright antiquated in comparison to what’s possible now. Entire buildings can have all of their temperature settings adjusted throughout, all in real time. If you’re asking how that’s possible, it’s really quite genius. It all hinges on ongoing monitoring and sensors that are used to control settings like humidity with exacting precision.
Each sensor installed in a smart building is connected through a modern HVAC system that relies upon an active information network. This network allows an intimate degree of connectivity to all of the sensors and the units they are attached to. Users can even monitor and manage certain patterns of usage with these new high tech HVAC systems. Various types of data can be gathered and analyzed in order to see patterns that may provide a thorough understanding of what a building’s inhabitants may deem to be the most comfortable settings. Of course, this is just one of many benefits.
Improved Efficiency
The leading benefit of smart building HVAC systems comes in the form of true optimization. With more efficiency comes more well developed conditional control. This branches off into several key areas. At the top of the list is energy efficiency. With such an intimate watch over the building’s temperature, the best balance for comfortable conditions can be kept at all times. The performance in the face of one outside condition to the next is far improved in comparison to traditional HVAC systems.
Energy Consumption
The improvements in efficiency equates to lower energy consumption as well. This can reduce costs for cooling and heating a building considerably, up to 30 percent or more. Nearly 80 percent of a building’s energy usage usually pertains to HVAC, so there’s no doubting this is a huge advantage. Any investment made towards smart buildings will be rewarded by massive savings in the end.
Audit Accuracy
Traditionally, it’s been problematic trying to control the parameters of a building’s climate. It was basically impossible before. Smart buildings offer full monitoring of each possible parameter however. The data can even be stored for in depth analysis at a later date. The information is even stored within a central location. All of this can also lead to a better understanding of the consumption patterns of buildings as a whole. Even better systems will be designed off of the back of this development in the future.
Ease Of Maintenance
The entire system can be more easily looked after in a smart building. Every single working part can be kept up with, allowing specific malfunctions to be detected and dealt with in short order. Error warnings will be immediate, and information will even be sent highlighting the reason for the problem. The system can adapt from there, helping avoid such troubles from then on.
Clean Energy
There’s now more pressure than ever for energy consumption to take place in an ecologically responsible manner. Smart control for buildings offers cleaner energy usage than ever before. Even the most optimal climate conditions can be upheld without an excessive amount of energy usage. This will reduce the ecological footprint of the building dramatically, and slowly help improve the world as a whole. As we understand more about the responsibility of our conservation efforts, smart buildings will likely become more and more in demand so that our consumption guidelines can be more accurately met. Smart buildings can also help improve air quality – something that there’s an increased focus on as we plough through the 21st century. Read all about how to measure air quality here.
Of course, these benefits only scratch the surface. Smart buildings will absolutely be a main component of connected cities as time marches on. They will allow for more comfort and convenience across the board, and the widespread efficiency has endless advantages. Furthermore, this is but a mere taste of what’s to come as technology advances.
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