The term "smart building" refers to structures equipped with a building management system that automatically regulates and controls various types of energy usage, including lighting, air conditioning, and water heating. Utilizing advanced technologies such as IoT (Internet of Things) and AI (Artificial Intelligence), smart buildings not only save energy but also enhance security, foster a more comfortable environment, and streamline management processes. By reducing the workload on facility management staff, smart buildings create a more efficient operational model for modern buildings.
Overcoming Building Management Challenges
Navigating Labor Shortages and Rising Wages for Greater Efficiency
Since the pandemic, the global economy has faced rising prices due to economic stagnation and inflation, while developing nations are experiencing increased labor wages. The building management sector is similarly impacted, as raising starting salaries becomes necessary to attract and retain staff. Furthermore, the scarcity of skilled building management professionals in developing countries complicates the adoption and implementation of the latest technologies. Consequently, many building management operations rely on manual processes, leading to inefficiencies. Coupled with rising wages, this situation poses a significant challenge for effective building management.
Confronting Rising Raw Material Prices: A Path to Managing Increased Building Costs
The price of crude oil, natural gas, and other raw materials continues to rise due to uncertainty about the future caused by terrorism and conflicts in various parts of the world. As a result, energy prices are also soaring, and the cost of powering electrical equipment such as air-conditioning and lighting is on the increase. The rising price of raw materials is the root cause of increased maintenance and management costs for energy-intensive buildings. In addition, unlike other problems, these increasing prices are a global problem, making it impossible for a single company to solve it through managerial methods. Therefore, more drastic reforms, such as introducing the latest technologies, are required.
Maximizing Value: How Reduced Office Space is Driving Down Contract Prices
In response to the pandemic, the shift to remote work has provided companies with economic advantages, particularly in the form of reduced rental costs from smaller office spaces. Additionally, initial concerns about communication challenges are being effectively addressed through online meetings and the implementation of hot desking in the office. This trend has resulted in a surplus of available office space, leading to a decrease in contract prices for building management services.
Transforming Spaces: How IoT Innovations are Making Buildings Smarter
There are many different approaches to addressing these building management issues. Let's look at some of the key initiatives.
Optimization - utilizing the network
Sensors are installed throughout the building and data is collected via the network. Building managers receive a variety of data in real time, allowing them to manage the building efficiently from a central location. Furthermore, cloud services can be utilized to monitor buildings remotely.
Energy management - introducing sensing technology
Sensors and cameras that measure temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration, brightness, the flow of people, etc., are installed throughout the building and the data from them is collected via the network and utilized in energy management. Analyzing the data collected from the sensors and cameras makes it possible to optimize energy usage.
Approaches being taken in existing buildings and facilities other than office buildings
Initiatives to make buildings smart are not limited to new construction projects. During major renovation of existing buildings, even simply installing energy-saving equipment or security equipment can be highly effective. In addition, the ability to collect and analyze different types of data in the building, such as the number of people coming and going and the number of users in different time periods, can be used for market research purposes in commercial buildings.
The Benefits of Smart Buildings
What are the merits of making a building smart, enabled by the latest technology?
Expanding the facility management area that can be handled by a single person through the introduction of IoT technologies
Utilizing cloud computing technology makes it possible to remotely monitor and manage energy consumption and interior environments from a central location.
In addition to visualizing power consumption and the interior environment, cloud services can be used to manage multiple buildings from one location. If buildings can be monitored remotely, then there is no need to assign staff to each building, only dispatching staff to the actual site when a problem occurs.
Introducing IoT technologies in this way is a useful approach that solves the problems of labor shortages and the lack of knowledgeable technicians, while also expanding the facility management area that can be handled by a single person.
Energy saving and predictive maintenance
By analyzing the data that shows the usage of electricity, gas, water, etc., and linking the analysis results with the operation of equipment that consumes energy, it is possible to efficiently optimize energy consumption within the building.
Since energy consumption is being constantly monitored in a smart building, this lets you know not only the energy consumption, but also the operating status of equipment in the building. By controlling equipment that consumes energy in combination with this data, you can achieve optimum energy saving. In addition, this makes it possible to carry out predictive maintenance: detecting and responding to equipment failures and other abnormalities at an early stage, before they become a problem.
Improving the interior environment
Visualizing and analyzing data on the interior environment, such as temperature and CO2 concentration, makes it possible to carry out appropriate air-conditioning and ventilation, making it more pleasant for facility users and residents. For example, in a smart building, the indoor CO2 concentration and distribution can be obtained using sensors, and the amount of external air intake can be adjusted based on the CO2 concentration. This prevents excessive intake of the outside air, which in turn reduces the energy required for air conditioning.
Enhanced security and safety
Intruders can be detected with cameras and sensors installed in the building. It is also possible to manage employee attendance and seating by scanning employees' ID cards or their veins. In addition, temperature sensors can be used to detect fires.
In addition to detecting intruders and fires, smart buildings can be linked to alarms and alarm systems, ensuring a swift response in an emergency.
BAS and BEMS
In smart building management, the terms "BAS" and "BEMS" are often used. These two terms are essential technical terms in building management, and in this section, we will explain their meaning and the relationship between them.
BAS
Short for "Building Automation System," which refers to a system that automates various equipment and facilities within the building and allows them to be managed centrally. BAS is a central monitoring system that monitors and controls the operation and energy consumption of equipment such as air-conditioning, lighting, and security.
BEMS
Short for "Building Energy Management System." BEMS is a system that visualizes and manages energy consumption, such as gas and electricity, based on data obtained from sensors installed on floors, in rooms, and in equipment. Although similar to BAS, BEMS is a system that builds on BAS, specializing in visualizing the operation and energy consumption of all equipment within the building. In addition to visualizing energy consumption, analyzing the data obtained from the sensors makes it possible to control the energy supply in a unified and efficient manner, resulting in energy savings and a more agreeable environment.
Relationship between BAS and BEMS
Understanding current energy use is the key to success for achieving energy savings. Data that reveals energy usage can be gathered using BAS sensors and network. This data is visualized in the BEMS in the form of graphs and charts. This allows you to identify any excessive energy use. In other words, the BEMS is a system that adds energy management functionality to the BAS.
The introduction of a BEMS built on top of a BAS is an essential step for making smart buildings that aim to save energy, create a more comfortable environment, and reduce the burden on building management staff.
Benefits of Smart Buildings: Enhancing Efficiency with IoT Technology
Smart buildings leverage cutting-edge building management technology powered by IoT to deliver a range of advantages. These include significant energy savings, improved security, and the ability to streamline facility management tasks, allowing one person to manage multiple areas effectively. Moreover, smart buildings promote resilient building management practices that can adapt to challenges such as pandemics and rising raw material prices. These benefits stem from practical technologies that not only stabilize operations within the building management industry but also provide flexibility to focus on more complex tasks.
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