Interesting Applications of IoT in Commercial Buildings

Today, many industrial properties and offices throughout the United States are outdated and old. They’re costing owners hefty amounts of money and are also responsible for hindering business growth. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that all these assets are now dead and play no part in advancing the strategies business executives set forth, thus, are hurting overall performance of the enterprise.

In this digital age, a building should be capable of working in sync with the objectives of your business, helping you increase operational efficiency and better achieve your business goals. What if we told you there is a way your commercial buildings can be made capable of understanding trends, optimize working environment and increase your revenue? How? With the help of Internet of Things (IoT).

Many businesses are now turning to the Internet of Things (IoT), a synthesis of technologies that connect and bring intelligence to objects and devices. It is estimated by tech research firms that by 2020, about 30 billion devices will be connected through the IoT. The popularity of IoT has brought forward an interesting concept called ‘Building Internet of Things’.

Building Internet of Things (BIoT)

The BIoT gathers key business information, refines the actions of machines and people and formulates proactive actions that are based on if/then conditions. Machine-to-machine communication and automation technologies make BIoT capable of collecting information and taking action based on this information. Underlying the Building Internet of Things are networking solutions and interconnected products that complete the system. This includes smart objects connected and linked together, sensors, controllers and management software to monitor the system.

The emerging IoT networking technologies tie these systems together. Examples of connected devices or objects include sunlight sensors, smart electrical switches, smoke detectors, cameras and refrigeration systems. All these elements work collaboratively to make an environment automated, connected and programmable.

BIoT Applications

BIoT can have a major impact on the bottom line of your business as its applications align with business objectives. Often times, business objectives include optimum energy management, automation to increase efficacy, and protection of goods and assets in a commercial building. BIoT solutions are now available that can address physical security, energy monitoring through smart HVAC, smart door locks and intelligent lighting.

Lighting control can provide major cost savings. When lighting systems are based on the BIoT, they will only operate when an individual is present in the area or at a specific time. Moreover, lighting moods can also be changed; from bright to dim to align with the setting of the workplace meetings or events.

HVAC is also an important area that can transition through BIoT. Motion and temperature sensors connected through IoT can be placed across the building to ensure that air conditioning and heating is only utilized when there is someone in the room. The savings can be massive.

Once individual systems of a commercial building are retrofitted with sensors and begin to deliver actionable data, the incoming information can be integrated into building automation system (BAS). This will allow the building to react to real-time scenarios and conditions as per the given control criteria.

In a nutshell, the IoT has the potential to transform commercial real estate industry and in the next few years, we may see more companies adapting BIoT as an effective energy management solution.

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