With the number of IoT devices growing exponentially to an estimated 75.4 billion devices in 2025[1], building fixtures such as lights, air-conditioning, alarm systems and door locks can all be a part of a hyperconnective virtual mesh. The integration of IoT in buildings bring about many benefits, transforming traditional architectures to smart buildings. As digitization continues to sweep across industries, buildings are also seeing rapid transformation in its form, construction and management. These enhancements stemmed from one need – to make buildings more efficient, safer and aesthetically balanced for improved quality of life.
The Fourth Industrial
Revolution: Changing the Façade of Smart Buildings
Revolution: Changing the Façade of Smart Buildings
Technological
evolutions are blurring the lines between physical and digital with the
introduction of the Internet-of-Things (IoT). With the number of IoT devices
growing exponentially to an estimated 75.4 billion devices in 2025[2], building fixtures
such as lights, air-conditioning, alarm systems and door locks can all be a
part of a hyperconnective virtual mesh.
evolutions are blurring the lines between physical and digital with the
introduction of the Internet-of-Things (IoT). With the number of IoT devices
growing exponentially to an estimated 75.4 billion devices in 2025[2], building fixtures
such as lights, air-conditioning, alarm systems and door locks can all be a
part of a hyperconnective virtual mesh.
The integration of IoT
in buildings bring about many benefits, transforming traditional architectures
to smart buildings. As digitization continues to sweep across industries,
buildings are also seeing rapid transformation in its form, construction and management.
These enhancements stemmed from one need – to make buildings more efficient,
safer and aesthetically balanced for improved quality of life.
in buildings bring about many benefits, transforming traditional architectures
to smart buildings. As digitization continues to sweep across industries,
buildings are also seeing rapid transformation in its form, construction and management.
These enhancements stemmed from one need – to make buildings more efficient,
safer and aesthetically balanced for improved quality of life.
With the global smart
building market expected to grow from $5.73 billion in 2016 to $24.73 billion
by 2021[3], there is indeed a
huge potential for smart building solutions out there. Below are some of the
examples of how the technology is shaping building and construction today,
which will be showcased at Build Eco Xpo (BEX) Asia and Mostra Convegno
Expocomfort Asia (MCE) taking place in Singapore in September.
building market expected to grow from $5.73 billion in 2016 to $24.73 billion
by 2021[3], there is indeed a
huge potential for smart building solutions out there. Below are some of the
examples of how the technology is shaping building and construction today,
which will be showcased at Build Eco Xpo (BEX) Asia and Mostra Convegno
Expocomfort Asia (MCE) taking place in Singapore in September.
Improved Operational
Efficiency
Efficiency
Studies have shown
that by digitising processes, companies reported an 82 percent increase in
efficiency[4]. The same applies
for building management, with the ecosystem of connected devices and sensors
aggregating collected data to enable conservation of resources, better
management of overhead and optimising operational efficiencies.
that by digitising processes, companies reported an 82 percent increase in
efficiency[4]. The same applies
for building management, with the ecosystem of connected devices and sensors
aggregating collected data to enable conservation of resources, better
management of overhead and optimising operational efficiencies.
IoT connects a network
of sensors and systems, allowing construction management to understand the
efficiency of their workflow and making adjustments to improve productivity
based on the data collected. IoT connectivity provides integrated systems with
clear overview of information and control over resource management in real-time
so any improvements can be realised almost immediately. Companies like Crestron
provides such technologies, allowing tenants and building owners to improve
efficiency in resource management. Their proprietary system, Crestron Fusion™,
allows tracking of energy usage through collection of data. Sensors monitor
real-time and historical data and help to remotely control and schedule the
usage of lightings and facilities in buildings for optimum energy efficiency.
of sensors and systems, allowing construction management to understand the
efficiency of their workflow and making adjustments to improve productivity
based on the data collected. IoT connectivity provides integrated systems with
clear overview of information and control over resource management in real-time
so any improvements can be realised almost immediately. Companies like Crestron
provides such technologies, allowing tenants and building owners to improve
efficiency in resource management. Their proprietary system, Crestron Fusion™,
allows tracking of energy usage through collection of data. Sensors monitor
real-time and historical data and help to remotely control and schedule the
usage of lightings and facilities in buildings for optimum energy efficiency.
Resource management,
such as powering down lights when the systems detect zero activities, or
adjusting cooling systems based on building temperature can now be
automatically adjusted. This not only ensures resources are more efficiently
utilised but also bring about an improved experience for the building users.
such as powering down lights when the systems detect zero activities, or
adjusting cooling systems based on building temperature can now be
automatically adjusted. This not only ensures resources are more efficiently
utilised but also bring about an improved experience for the building users.
Energy Savings
Smart buildings
monitor efficient energy usage through data collection and intelligent design.
En-trak, a Hong Kong-based energy management solutions provider, uses
IoT-enabled sensors and lighting, such as En-trak™ Energy and En-trak™ Smart Lighting to
regulate energy usage and control lighting in real time.
monitor efficient energy usage through data collection and intelligent design.
En-trak, a Hong Kong-based energy management solutions provider, uses
IoT-enabled sensors and lighting, such as En-trak™ Energy and En-trak™ Smart Lighting to
regulate energy usage and control lighting in real time.
For
example, the company deployed En-trak™ Energy at Hong Kong’s English Schools
Foundation’s (ESF) 22 institutions with sensors and meters to monitor and
record energy consumption through a centralised system in real-time. With
automation of resource and energy usage, ESF saved over HKD$1.1million in
energy bills, 760,000 kWh of energy, and reduced carbon emissions by over 600
tons – all within the first 10 months[5].
example, the company deployed En-trak™ Energy at Hong Kong’s English Schools
Foundation’s (ESF) 22 institutions with sensors and meters to monitor and
record energy consumption through a centralised system in real-time. With
automation of resource and energy usage, ESF saved over HKD$1.1million in
energy bills, 760,000 kWh of energy, and reduced carbon emissions by over 600
tons – all within the first 10 months[5].
Energy savings can
also be achieved through minimising external conditions that affects the use of
the building’s resources. For example, research has shown that solar radiation
through building windows account for approximately 40% of a building’s load on
cooling systems[6]. Smart tinting
systems such as AGC -Kinestral’s Halio responds to external environment by
adjusting its window tint automatically to deflect solar radiation. With
internal building environments less affected by external factors, tenants can
reduce up to 40% of energy usage in cooling systems and lighting[7].
also be achieved through minimising external conditions that affects the use of
the building’s resources. For example, research has shown that solar radiation
through building windows account for approximately 40% of a building’s load on
cooling systems[6]. Smart tinting
systems such as AGC -Kinestral’s Halio responds to external environment by
adjusting its window tint automatically to deflect solar radiation. With
internal building environments less affected by external factors, tenants can
reduce up to 40% of energy usage in cooling systems and lighting[7].
Improving Experience
of Tenants and Property Owners
of Tenants and Property Owners
Smart buildings
provide convenience and automation to its tenants, akin to that of driverless
cars. Lumani, a Singapore-based start-up developing next generation smart
solutions for buildings is one fine example. LumaZones, the company’s open IoT
system, makes use of sensors for autonomous operations of energy management. By
measuring occupancy level, it is able to adjust air temperature and lighting
for a specified zone in the building, allowing for a tailored experience for
users without any manual intervention. Engaging this system, a 1000m² co-space
office in Taipei has seen a 75% savings in energy usage for its lighting
system.
provide convenience and automation to its tenants, akin to that of driverless
cars. Lumani, a Singapore-based start-up developing next generation smart
solutions for buildings is one fine example. LumaZones, the company’s open IoT
system, makes use of sensors for autonomous operations of energy management. By
measuring occupancy level, it is able to adjust air temperature and lighting
for a specified zone in the building, allowing for a tailored experience for
users without any manual intervention. Engaging this system, a 1000m² co-space
office in Taipei has seen a 75% savings in energy usage for its lighting
system.
IoT technologies is
the way forward for Property Owners
the way forward for Property Owners
IoT is transforming
every facet of the building and construction industry – from how it is built to
how we can conserve resources and how the experience of users in the building
can be enhanced. Although capital costs for green buildings seem to be
higher than traditional ones, the life-cycle costs have been proven to be a lot
lower, with payback happening a lot faster.
every facet of the building and construction industry – from how it is built to
how we can conserve resources and how the experience of users in the building
can be enhanced. Although capital costs for green buildings seem to be
higher than traditional ones, the life-cycle costs have been proven to be a lot
lower, with payback happening a lot faster.
With data as the new
life blood of every ecosystem, the industry can look forward to advanced
sensors powering each stage of a building’s evolution, from design and
construction to actual building management. The rapid innovation in the
industry is proof that smart buildings will soon dominate skylines across the
region.
life blood of every ecosystem, the industry can look forward to advanced
sensors powering each stage of a building’s evolution, from design and
construction to actual building management. The rapid innovation in the
industry is proof that smart buildings will soon dominate skylines across the
region.
#End#
[3] Smart Building Market worth 24.73
Billion USD by 2021, Markets and Markets, 2016
Billion USD by 2021, Markets and Markets, 2016
[4] ASQ 2015 Manufacturing Outlook
Survey, American Society for Quality, 2015
Survey, American Society for Quality, 2015
[5] Saved 760,000 kWh of energy and
reduced 600 tons of carbon emission annually with En-trak real-time energy
management. En-Trak, 2017.
reduced 600 tons of carbon emission annually with En-trak real-time energy
management. En-Trak, 2017.
[6] Impact of Window Films on the Overall Energy Consumption
of Existing UK Hotel Buildings. MDPI, 2017.
of Existing UK Hotel Buildings. MDPI, 2017.
[7] Why Halio. Kinestral, 2017
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