The Benefits of an Intelligent Building System
Tuesday, 20th September 2022
Intelligent building systems are here—and they’re here to stay. According to a recent research report, the global smart building market is expected to grow from $72.6 billion in 2021 to $121.6 billion in 2026.
That’s a compound annual growth rate of almost 11%, and is indicative of one clear trend: globally, businesses are taking note of the many benefits of intelligent building systems.
Particularly in the wake of the pandemic, businesses are more aware than ever of the need to create workspaces that are safe, efficient and cost effective. One of the easiest ways to tick these boxes is by introducing smart building technology.
But how do you go about doing this, especially if your building needs to be retrofitted?
With Infogrid, it’s easier than you think. Let’s take a look at why.
What is the definition of an intelligent building?
Imagine your building could automatically optimise the quality of the air your employees breathe, or identify when surfaces needed to be cleaned. Imagine it could detect when doors and windows were left open unnecessarily, posing fire or security risks.
Imagine it could pick up changes in your water pipes, alerting you to the possibility of leaks ahead of time.
All of this is in the power of intelligent building systems.
An intelligent building uses advanced and integrated technology systems to support your employees, drive efficiencies and reduce costs. These systems typically involve sensors that are powered by the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI). Together, they gather important data so that you can monitor different aspects of your building in real time.
What’s the difference between smart buildings and intelligent buildings?
You might hear the two terms—smart buildings and intelligent buildings—used interchangeably, but there is a slight difference between them. While smart buildings use smart sensors, like the ones we’ve mentioned above, to gather specific, siloed information, intelligent buildings collate all of this information into centralised portals or dashboards.
Intelligent buildings, in other words, refer to a variety of smart processes working together to offer holistic insight.
What can an intelligent building do that a non-intelligent building can’t?
A building that doesn’t use any smart technology is just that, a building. It has all the basics: doors and windows, electricity and plumbing, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. But because it isn’t tracking the usage or performance of these elements, it can’t optimise or improve them.
An intelligent building, on the other hand:
Tracks the occupancy and movement of your employees. Knowing where your employees are enables you to use certain systems, such as HVAC and lighting, only when they’re necessary. This saves costs and reduces viral risk.
Through data you gather on footfall, you can develop effective social distancing measures, thereby reassuring your staff of their safety. Research we conducted for our 2020 Return to Work report showed how important this was in making employees feel comfortable as they returned to their workspaces.
Allows for remote maintenance. Today, the working world is increasingly hybrid, and will likely be for a long time to come. This means that neither employees nor facilities managers will be on site all the time. Being able to conduct essential maintenance remotely helps to keep everything ticking over smoothly, and means that issues can be addressed before they become seriously problematic.
Synchronises and streamlines processes. Having a central repository that houses all your building data makes managing your building simpler and more streamlined. This allows you to focus on your core business, your people, and your future.
What are the opportunities and benefits of an intelligent building?
Let’s explore some of the tangible benefits of intelligent building systems, and how they can help you achieve other business objectives.
Efficient buildings are more sustainable. Almost 40% of the world’s carbon emissions come from the built environment. If your business is serious about mitigating its climate impact, you need to keep a close eye on your emissions. Smart technologies can help. Through our IoT sensors, we helped one retail company save 800 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year on its HVAC alone.
Healthy employees are more productive and more loyal. In the wake of Covid, Infogrid research has shown that 61% of employees would feel more comfortable returning to work if their employers tracked data relating to indoor air quality. If you’re monitoring this information, you’re not only helping your employees feel safe and supported, but also ensuring that they work better, too.
One study reveals that improved air quality can improve employee productivity by as much as 8%. This translates to a saving of approximately $6,500 per employee a year. Employees who feel as though their health and well-being are prioritised are also likely to be more loyal, reducing staff turnover.
Do away with manual maintenance processes. The time for manual maintenance has come and gone. By relying on smart, automated systems, you’re in control of the aspects of your building that require maintenance, which can help to free up your staff to focus on tasks that require human intervention. This saves both time and money. In London, our smart solutions saved a theatre 2,000 labour hours in the space of a year.
Efficient buildings are most cost effective. Smart solutions are designed to save you money over time. If your building is more efficient, if your staff happy and productive, and if you’re not wasting time and effort on manual processes and maintenance, you’re reducing your costs. Our solutions helped a supermarket to save $1.6 million a year – just on HVAC costs.
How do you go about retrofitting a non-intelligent building with smart technology?
Converting your non-intelligent building to an intelligent building might feel overwhelming at first. Where do you begin? The easiest way is to ask for expert advice. At Infogrid, we’ll help you:
Understand intelligent systems. IoT and AI solutions aren’t as complex as you may think. In fact, they’re easy to use and require very few technical skills. We’ll have you up and running in no time.
Put a dollar-and-cents value to these upgrades. Knowing how much smart technology will save you over time can help to defend the initial investment, and its ongoing use, to your executive team.
Identify low-hanging fruit. Some solutions are quicker and easier to implement than others. You don’t need to do everything at once; your transition to an intelligent building can be incremental.
Install small and discreet sensors. Our sensors are so small and discreet, you’re unlikely to notice them at all. We understand this is especially important if your building’s history is part of its charm and if you don’t want its aesthetic to be affected by modern upgrades.
Start your intelligent building journey today by asking Infogrid to help. Take a look at our demo to find out more about how we work, or contact us directly.