The occupiers of a Green Building Environment (GBE) may work more effectively, comfortably, safely, and healthily because of the GBE’s many positive attributes. Each of these GBE components has its own set of obstacles for building owners and managers to overcome.

Automation systems are installed in many modern buildings and developments by building owners or developers investing in this innovative technology. Improved comfort, productivity, and code compliance are just some of the benefits of a well-used Building Automation System (BAS).

Control and automation systems for buildings

When you know what information building automation and control systems gather, how to utilise that information, and can identify the component control systems that make up the integrated whole, understanding these systems is easier. Building automation systems make use of motion sensors, card readers, and CCTV cameras to identify whether a space is in use.

Building automation uses this data to alter systems to decrease energy waste while still providing a suitable living environment for tenants. This information is then shared throughout the different control systems. Input data is used by a variety of systems, including the following:

Control of lighting

The lights in a building area are automatically turned on and off as occupants enter and exit. Using timers and zone controls, you may programme the lights to turn off at specific times.

Controlling the building’s temperature

Heating and cooling systems are activated and deactivated based on occupancy data.

To guarantee that the temperature in the building is maintained at a certain level at all times, designated schedules (such as times of day) can be applied. To ensure that their area of the building is at the right temperature when they arrive in the morning, users can utilise an Automatic Tenant Override (ATO) that allows them to make temperature adjustments using their smartphone or tablet.

Controlling the building’s air quality

Monitoring and testing of indoor air is done by building automation systems to make sure that tenants don’t get sick or hurt from poor air quality. These systems can also control humidity and remove unpleasant odours to make people more comfortable and healthier.

Building Automation Systems: A Win-Win Situation

The benefits of integrated building automation go well beyond reducing environmental impact; they also include lowering energy costs and enhancing building safety and security.

Not only do these systems keep buildings running smoothly, but they also collect data that can be used by building managers to find new methods to decrease expenses while also improving the quality of their facilities.

Energy efficiency improvements 

Businesses that use BAS to manage their heating and lighting can save between 5% and 30% on their electricity bills. There are two significant energy consumers in modern buildings: HVAC and lighting. These systems are therefore typically the first to be automated.

Wireless building automation systems can monitor every area of a building and make immediate modifications to maintain comfort while reducing energy use. Lighting can be dimmed remotely in portions of the building that aren’t being used to save money on electricity.

Impact on the environment

A BAS minimises the quantity of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere by lowering a building’s energy use. Furthermore, water consumption may be monitored and reduced by integrating a BAS into plumbing systems.

Buildings benefit from these systems because they lower their environmental footprint by minimising waste. Although fresh water is a renewable natural resource, climate change and increasing demand mean better water management is needed. A third party, such as a government agency, can use the systems to collect data and verify the building’s energy use.

Enhanced Security

The type of business done in the facility determines the level of protection required. A BAS may be configured to lock doors and turn out the lights at a certain time, if desired.

It’s possible for an employee to enter the building beyond that time using an access card, and the system will automatically switch on lights for that employee’s area alone. Car park lighting and security cameras may also be controlled via the system, and the system will alert the appropriate people in the event of a security breach.

Upkeep of the Building

An integrated BAS not only keeps tabs on energy use, but it also collects data from all of the building’s zones and displays it on the computer running the system. An operator can discover and diagnose operational problems early on by evaluating the information supplied by the BAS, without needing to dispatch a technician to locate it.

Early detection and correction of operational issues reduces building maintenance costs and helps to avoid breakdowns that might disrupt company operations.

Clearly, we are increasingly moving into a world where automation, along with AI and machine learning, will be taking over many functions of our environment and doing them better, faster, and more efficiently than humans can.