Over the last few years, we have been facing a new and ever-growing focus on the creation of a society that takes into consideration things like efficiency, sustainability, technology, and innovation.
In fact, the above have become essential for people all around the world, with societies leading the path into smart cities and putting together the most recent innovations in IoT technologies. We are talking about a network of interrelated devices that connect and exchange data with other IoT devices and the cloud. There is to say the digital, connected universe of smart devices.
In fact, IoT devices are usually embedded with technology, such as sensors and software, and can include mechanical and digital machines as well as consumer objects.
Smart Buildings and their impact on sustainable cities
According to a Smart Cities: global strategic business report, the global smart cities market will reach 5.2 trillion dollars by 2030, with a CAGR growth of 22.9%. The numbers say it all in a time when the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sustainability criteria applied in building management – Smart Building & Workplace – are of utmost importance in the sustainable performance of cities. Also important is its context with the surrounding environment and the well-being of the people who live in it, work there or are just around to visit.
That being said, it is true that no matter what the goal is (or was), the ‘need’ for smart buildings has always been there. So, what has changed? Well, we just didn’t know that 20 or 30 years ago, since technology was not advanced enough, and the possibility wasn’t in our minds as a day-to-day plan.
But now, things are becoming quite different and, where there was once a solid, fixed, segregated amount of concrete, are now being “created” extensions of the digital realm offering new capabilities that not only make our lives easier and healthier but also help on making better decisions.
IoT Technology is transforming buildings
Smart building and workplace solutions are integrating IoT networks and devices so data may be collected and processed in real-time or even in asynchronous mode.
A Statista study predicts that Smart Cities infrastructures will provide more than 40% of all Smart Cities revenues worldwide. On the other hand, Gartner is saying that smart buildings IoT endpoint electronics and communications market will be worth 108 billion dollars in 2030, which means, up by 53 billion dollars from 2020.
In fact, Gartner believes that the pandemic has accelerated the use of indoor surveillance to monitor building activity and ensure safety; it is the largest use case and will grow at a 7% CAGR.
6 Advantages of Smart Buildings solutions
But there are some other advantages concerning smart building solutions using network technologies and IoT devices. Below, we will list some of them:
1- Energy Management
By using IoT technologies, through sensorization, it is now possible to go for efficiency gains by monitoring and controlling the different electrical systems, as well as gas and fuel in urban buildings. This will ensure new and important cost reductions and optimization of resource usage.
Also, by optimizing building performance based on real-time data insights, it is possible to significantly reduce energy consumption and lower energy bills. It can also be done by using energy-efficient lighting, heating, and cooling systems that are optimized based on occupancy patterns.
2- Water Management
IoT also enables efficiency gains in water consumption by monitoring and controlling flows on the different water systems in the building, not only for human consumption but also sanitary ones. This does not only ensure cost reduction but also resource utilization optimization.
3- Environmental Management
Smart buildings are important for sustainability. IoT networks will allow monitorization and control of environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, air quality, and noise in the different building spaces. It also helps to reduce our carbon footprint, foster sustainability, and endorse eco-friendly alternatives.
For example, an occupancy sensor can reduce an environment’s carbon dioxide levels by sending signals to the building management system to turn off heating, ventilation, and lighting when there are fewer people inside.
4- Building Management Systems
IoT networks and devices have expanded and strengthened the automation and control capacity of management systems (BMS) on the more traditional facilities (HVAC, UTA, CCTV, Access Control, Lightening, etc.) in urban buildings, with new devices/sensors and data integration/correlation capability.
5- Enhanced Communication and Collaboration
IoT relies heavily on integration so that is why smart buildings are rich with intricate components that allow people to work together in a seamless way. They use cloud-based networks, bringing simplicity and clarity into communication and collaboration. Not only does this make it easier to optimize performance, but it also makes it simpler to monitor progress.
6- Parking Lot Management
Networks and IoT sensorization are already helping the management of indoor and outdoor car parks, by controlling vehicles and parking spaces in a much easier way.
Smart Cities with specialized partners
In conclusion, transforming city buildings into smart buildings is a way to provide a wide range of tangible benefits that goes from reducing energy consumption and operational costs to improving occupant comfort and well-being.
In fact, it comes as no surprise that smart buildings are already offering significant advantages over the more traditional ones. By automating building management, improving security, and increasing the value of assets. But that is not all. It also contributes to ensure that the urban building space will go through the digital and sustainable transition of cities within the framework of Smart Cities policies and solutions.
These transition processes can be facilitated with the help of specialized partners who can ensure greater efficiency in adopting IoT solutions and reducing the challenges associated with privacy and security.
