Page 16 - Climate Control News magazine March 2022

Building Automation
Deploying sensors
to create sensitiveS
fast becoming the new standard as TODAY’S BUILDINGS ARE GETTING HEALTHIER, SMARTER the world propels itself along the
AND A LOT MORE SENSITIVE. CCN EDITOR, SANDRA ROSSI, path towards net zero.
buildings
USTAINABLE BUILDINGS ARE
EXAMINES THE TRENDS DRIVING THIS NEW LANDSCAPE.
Sydney’s Quay Quarter Tower (QQT) which is scheduled for completion later this year.
But it isn’t just about design fea- tures and indoor comfort.
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised the bar when it comes to Indoor Air Quality.
Safety is at the forefront of purchasing decisions.
In recent years, building controls have made buildings smarter and more responsive to the needs of tenants.
Today, building owners are taking this to the next level with the deployment of sensors.
This has transformed building operations making our buildings more sensitive and aware. Smart buildings use technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) which connects devices, such as sensors, lighting and security, to the in- ternet using embedded software and sensors to communicate with one another. By communi- cating with one another devices can monitor
themselves and act when necessary.
“UNTIL NOW SENSORS WERE MAINLY USED TO IMPROVE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF A BUILDING.”
Until now sensors were mainly being used to improve the energy efficiency of buildings.
Sensors were used to collect data about how building equipment and spaces were being used. This provided managers with an overview of building operations.
For example, sensors could reveal that lights were left on in the conference room after every- one had left the building, or that energy use reaches its peak at 2pm on a Thursday. Once building managers have insight into what is driving unnecessary energy use, they can make actionable, data-driven decisions to reduce it.
Just as manufacturers are automating pro- duction and warehouses are becoming ‘self aware’, buildings today boast air-conditioning and heating systems that can turn on and off based on the occupancy of a room.
At the same time, sensors can check for room occupancy and match patterns to energy use throughout the day.
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