Smart Buildings – optimising architecture for the future
The energy efficiency of buildings has been a UK-wide focus for a number of years now, but analysis of over 4,000 sites has demonstrated that the majority of organisations can still make meaningful carbon reductions that result in significant savings, through very simple changes.
New data from a survey conducted by EDF Energy has revealed that simple energy efficiency changes could deliver over ￡45million in savings per year. Whilst this is indeed a substantial number, it pales into insignificance when extrapolated over the number of sites across the UK as a whole, meaning we are still missing a huge opportunity to both save costs and support the environment.
The analysis of energy consumption was undertaken remotely at locations including schools, hospitals, hotels, police stations and offices. The data was then used to understand the potential for efficiency and carbon reduction across the country.
Data from the vast majority of locations found that very simple changes could actually deliver a significant impact. On average, organisations could make annual savings of over ￡10,000 per site by simply installing efficient lighting.
Nearly two thirds of sites could also make significant savings by optimising their operational schedule, which might include room management and utilisation, or intelligent use of their heating systems to ensure that they are only powered on when users are actually present.
Water wastage, leaks and compliance measures should also be high on the agenda of quick wins for building managers and estate owners.
Above all else, and beyond the positive economic and environmental impacts to be seized upon, the social and user-experience related benefits of addressing these issues remain a key factor, as this blog from the University of Manchester highlights:
https://blog.redevelopment.library.manchester.ac.uk/2019/07/18/get-the-basics-right/
Landlords and business owners will reap the rewards of looking after the wellbeing of the people using their buildings, and optimising the way that spaces are utilised.
IoT technology has begun to tackle these energy, building and people management opportunities, and a host of solutions already exist. In fact, the market is currently spoilt for choice.
The barriers to adoption are reducing in scale and size every single day, and the data derived from these IoT solutions has far broader use-case applications than the problems they are specifically setting out to solve. Insight which has so far eluded the people that matter.
It is time to change the status quo and empower smart building decision making for the greater good. People, energy, environment, cost. Value through connected intelligence.
If you want to find out more, contact us today and discover how we can help.
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