Introduction
It was revealed this week that almost a quarter of us within the UK own at least one smart device. While we are familiar with using smart phones, and controlling heating within our homes via an app, many people remain uncertain of what a Smart Building is, and how Smart Buildings can benefit workplaces.
Smart Buildings are integrating devices that control, monitor and manage all building types into the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT solutions for Smart Buildings enable you to connect and automate your building, technology, and energy systems to transform the way you manage your facility.
By connecting your data, businesses can make informed decisions so that operational changes, capital investments and working procedures can be applied successfully, based on an accurate understanding of how your building really works.
Smart Buildings and Analytics
Smart Buildings use technology to deliver user-focused experiences, as well as provide space and energy efficiencies. But what really makes this technology “smart”, is the ability to understand who exactly will be using the building and streamline what they do within it. This, in turn, enables businesses to become more productive, and can improve the overall wellbeing of employees – all thanks to the insights provided by your Smart Building.
For example, analysing air quality and automating temperature within a building not only reduces energy bills, but also maintains a comfortable working environment and can reduce headaches, fatigue and irritation. This technology can provide a more comfortable working environment and is a great example of how Smart Buildings deliver user-focused experiences to improve your wellbeing.
Smart Buildings and Lighting
A building equipped with Human Centric Lighting is another example of how Smart Buildings enable holistic benefits for its users. Artificial light that adjusts for intensity and colour spectrum, mimicking solar light and darkness levels at different times of the day and night, is proven to support a healthy circadian rhythm. The Smart Building is able to take an integrated approach, to look at the bigger picture and provide a personalised a user experience: the natural lighting balance will consequently reduce distractions, allowing employees to concentrate to their best ability for extended periods of time.
Smart Buildings can also combine security and convenience. Building Access Control, Room Booking Management systems, and CCTV solutions enable buildings to deliver a better user experience, which can be centrally controlled and managed to provide efficiencies and streamline processes.
Conclusion
So, we can define a Smart Building as an umbrella term for a structure of technology that delivers a personalised user experience, which feeds directly into the wellbeing of those using it. The impact of a Smart Building can be measured not just on efficiency savings made on bills, but also by increasing productivity, providing a healthy working environment, and by streamlining processes.
Interested in learning more? Discover how the Remark Group can provide a “smart” environment and improve efficiencies within your business here. We will also be exhibiting at the Facilities Show – find us at stand FM4830 on Tuesday 18th June 2019.
Stay tuned for our next post where we’ll be focusing further on the benefits of Human Centric Lighting.
