Smart building, the intelligent building that offers more efficient use and energy consumption

Smart buildings and the transformation of intelligent buildings are based on Internet of things solutions. Thanks to the IoT, a building can be connected with an approach based on savings and cost optimization. Connected structures become real service platforms with multiple use cases.

In the first instance, connected equipment takes care of capturing a very large number of data relating to the occupants: temperature, CO2, presence, pressure, noise level, door opening, the possibilities are numerous. Secondly, this wide range of data is enriched with third-party information, exogenous to the infrastructure, such as the weather, humidity, traffic, etc. Finally, once linked, all this data is analyanalyzedsed and enriched, notably with the aim of reducing energy consumption. This is one of the characteristics of intelligent buildings.

The primary aim is to think or rethink the building in terms of activities and with a view to Building as a Service.

This concept consists of thinking about the building differently, i.e., no longer thinking in terms of work but in terms of present and future uses. Everything must be designed to meet the needs of the occupants and make their lives as easy as possible. The services offered will therefore be directly integrated and designed for the building in order to improve the comfort and well-being of the occupants.

Thanks to digital technologies, and more particularly the Internet of Things, buildings are now becoming true service platforms, for the benefit of both users and operators.

In this sector, innovation was often focused on construction methods. Today, with the generalization of the connected world and the digitalization of practices, needs are changing and structures are responding to these changes with innovative solutions.

With the aim of reducing costs, providing better conditions of occupancy (e.g. working conditions), and preserving the environment, intelligent infrastructures and intelligent buildings by definition represent the future, and the Internet of Things is one of the actors of change.

• Optimization of energy resources used through better monitoring and management
• Enhanced security with powerful alarm systems and real-time monitoring
• Preventive maintenance to anticipate breakdowns and identify malfunctions

It is important not to focus only on technology, because while it is true that data is a real goldmine that creates value, social and human value must not be neglected. It is important to ensure that Smart Buildings are understood in relation to the other objects of the Smart City such as infrastructures, telecoms networks, decentralized electricity networks also known as smart grids, and mobility services.

As a component of the Smart City, intelligent buildings contribute to the optimization of urban spaces and to the development of services that meet the expectations of consumers and citizens.

Finally, all the systems and sensors must be able to communicate with each other and be controlled remotely, and centrally from a single interface to facilitate decision-making.

• Thinking about the well-being of occupants

At work: facilitating employees’ daily life by connecting office buildings is a typical example. The connected building allows multiple use cases such as temperature control, lighting, or shutters adjustment according to external actors such as the environment, the weather, or individual preferences. With the help of IoT solutions, all parameters can be adjusted and personalized.

In the building shell, all components can be connected. For example, waste bins can be equipped with sensors to facilitate the collection, while providing users with a clearer picture of the volumes of waste they produce. In the same way, connected sanitary facilities help to optimize the number of interventions by maintenance staff and improve the level of hygiene by allowing the reporting of an incident, for example.

• Thinking about safety

Thanks to the Internet of things, all accesses to a building can be equipped with sensors to detect the opening or closing of doors and windows, depending on the time of day or night.

A classic use case concerns the installation of intelligent cameras capable of recognizing abnormal behavior and thus preventing intrusions and aggressions by setting alerts, for example.

Security also refers to the securing of data flows between communicating systems.

• Thinking in real-time

Until now, digital signage systems have limited the dissemination of information to that which was available, stored, and established in advance. Connected systems now allow information to be transmitted remotely and in real-time to dedicated interfaces.

• Thinking about energy management

Intelligent buildings inevitably mean efficient management of energy resources: heating, air conditioning, lighting, CO2, etc. Implementing IoT solutions in buildings allows resources to be used intelligently. For example, by adapting the settings according to the number of visitors, time slots, the days of the week, etc.

Thanks to the IoT, it is possible to connect directly to the meters, to collect detailed data on energy consumption which will make it possible to detect anomalies or energy-hungry appliances.