What are smart office buildings?
Intelligent buildings are buildings that integrate and manage information, occupants, building systems, materials and construction as a whole adaptable system to achieve building performance in terms of energy consumption, building efficiency, longevity, comfort and occupant satisfaction. Smart office buildings increase staff productivity, increase energy efficiency, reduce operating costs, and optimize building use.
What are the ingredients that create an intelligent building?
In addition to the technology of building automation (HVAC, "Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Energy, ITC, Security, Lighting, Safety"), using BMS (Building Management System) increasingly on the Internet of Things (IoT) to connect systems so that buildings respond responsibly to the needs of users. The result is an increase in productivity by providing an optimal environment for occupants of the building, a framework of wellbeing and easy access to resources.
The IoT equipment that has come to complete smart buildings in recent years include the following: space sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, smart meters, smart thermostats, electrical charging stations, and video surveillance capability image processing.
In an intelligent building, automation systems of command and control (BMS) perform the following:
• Building performance monitoring
• Inefficiencies detection
• Diagnosis of causes of emerging events
• Automated adjustments
• Alerting the facility service providers about the need for corrective actions
From the point of view of the needs of users of smart buildings, automation systems perform the followig:
• Building equipment management
• Energy management
• Increase facility management productivity
• Improve the use of space
• Adaptability / personalization of the space for each tenant
• Easy access to resources and good management
• Increasing energy efficiency
Intelligent buildings are not just about the technology but alco about ”smart” technology-enabled services. Smart services are the ones that maintain a smart building functioning within the design parameters. Some examples of these services include: utilities and energy management, predictive maintenance, automation monitoring, safety and security, and last but not least, consumer experience.
In order to reach the smart building goal, it is necessary to work together more physical resources:
• Equipment, plant and furniture
• Sensors, control equipment, digital infrastructure
• Automation and analysis and data processing software
From the point of view of the human factors involved in building, operating and maintaining an intelligent building, they are: architect designers, facility management service providers, developers, owners and tenants. Intelligent buildings are part of the smart city concept. They interact and pool resources to meet the needs of city citizens in terms of sustainability and much less environmental impact than traditional buildings.
