So far, Americans have been lucky. The nation’s buildings, places where citizens spend about 90 percent of their lives, have met their basic needs for shelter. But now, buildings have to be smarter. Here’s why.
Today’s buildings are too inefficient. They have relied on multiple systems for lighting, heating and other necessities with each one operating independently of the other, as if in silos. This has come at the expense of energy, building use and cost-effectiveness.
Smart buildings promise to improve efficiency by connecting these systems to reduce operating costs and increase the safety, productivity and quality of life of those who work and live inside their walls.
Midtown Manhattan skyline, New York City, illuminated buildings at night, elevated view, horizontal, long exposure with tripod, USA
Smart Building Boom
Annual expenditures on building applications that integrate operational functions are expected to rise sharply in the coming years. Second only to Asia, North America will see these revenues nearly double from $4.7 billion in 2012 to $8.9 billion in 2017, according to IHS Technology, an information company with expertise in pivotal areas that shape global business.
This growth may get a boost from the federal government, which last fall announced plans to invest more than $160 million in research programs aimed at developing technologies that could become integral parts of smart buildings. The initiative is intended to create test beds for internet of things applications; develop new collaborative models among cities, countries and industries; and leverage existing federal activities.
Some U.S. municipalities are not waiting. In San Francisco, the 13-story building that houses the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission integrates many kinds of smart technology. A hybrid solar array and wind turbine can generate up to 227,000 kilowatt-hours per year — about 7 percent of the building’s annual energy needs. The building reclaims wastewater, and a raised flooring system reduces the building’s heating, cooling and ventilation costs by 51 percent.
Lower Lifetime Costs
Although the capital costs associated with smart buildings are higher than those for conventional ones, the life-cycle costs of smart buildings are lower and payback happens quicker. A key driver for integrating systems and making buildings more intelligent is the energy savings that can be achieved. The operational benefits obtained from integration, however, are equally important.
A single platform, integrating multiple systems, can save precious time. If a fire broke out in one part of a building, operators viewing the scene from security cameras would be able to activate fire suppression equipment, open doors using an access control system and turn off the ventilation system that would otherwise feed fresh air to the blaze.
Smart buildings are also good for the equipment that runs them. Intelligent management systems can detect faults in the machinery and predict which pieces of equipment may soon fail. This can extend the life of building machinery, reduce maintenance costs and prevent complete failures, thereby preserving the reputation of the owner and, in the case of smart hospital buildings, the well-being of occupants. IHS Technology predicted in 2013 that the market for fault detection based on big data building analytics would expand over the coming five years at a compound annual growth rate of more than 40 percent.
Smarter Is Also Healthier
Smart structures can enhance the health, happiness and productivity of the people in them. Improved air quality can boost worker productivity between a half percent and 5 percent, according to a study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Nationwide, this could translate into additional revenue between $20 billion and $200 billion.
Just as smart buildings may boost worker productivity, so may they enhance learning. American students miss about 14 million school days per year because of asthma-related conditions. Controlling exposure to indoor environmental factors, such as carbon monoxide, dust and pollen, may prevent more than 65 percent of asthma cases among elementary school-age children, according to the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Improved air quality may also be associated with better test scores, according to the Journal of Indoor Air. Green schools, with features such as acoustical ceiling tiles, lined ductwork and appropriately placed vents, create fewer distractions and increase student participation, according to the U.S. Green Building Council.
Smart buildings have been shown to save energy, streamline building management and prevent expensive equipment failures. Although they are more expensive to build, over the long run, they actually cost less than conventional buildings over time as a result of how efficiently they run. The added benefits of increased safety and a higher quality of life for those inside make smart buildings a good bet for the future.
