Smart buildings today are far more than a token contribution to sustainability or a clever way to save energy—they positively impact health, safety, and comfort. This shift in how we design and operate buildings comes as research increasingly links indoor environmental quality (IEQ) to human well-being and productivity.
Modern technologies offer powerful tools to meet the growing demand for energy efficiency in building projects. These smart building solutions not only save power but feature more comprehensive control over their systems with the goal of creating a more holistic living/working space. From air quality sensors and intelligent lighting to smart lighting systems and advanced HVAC management, we continue to revolutionize energy-efficient buildings with health in mind in countless ways.
Monitoring and Improving Air Quality
Indoor air quality (IAQ) has a major effect on our health—poor quality air can cause a range of health problems, from minor seasonal discomfort from pollen infiltrating shoddy HVAC systems to more serious respiratory infections. Aside from measures like controlling humidity, keeping spaces clean, and replacing air filters, integrating advanced tech into buildings substantially elevates air quality.
With public health at stake, facilities managers should use essential tools like air quality sensors and air purification sensors to monitor and improve air quality whenever possible.
Air Quality Sensors
IAQ monitoring is the core of a healthy building. Modern sensors can detect a range of pollutants, including particulate matter like pollen, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon dioxide, and other harmful substances. When selecting sensors, look at both accuracy and coverage to ensure more comprehensive monitoring throughout the building.
Air Purification Systems
Air purification technologies complement ventilation systems to boost IAQ. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters remove microscopic particles, including dust, pollen, and even some microorganisms. Activated carbon filters collect gaseous pollutants and odors, which cling to the filter instead of circulating into your lungs and making you sick. UV-C light systems, while optional and often expensive, target airborne pathogens that spread infectious diseases—this is especially valuable in healthcare facilities where sterility is critical.
Lighting for Enhanced Comfort and Efficiency
Many people think lighting is merely aesthetic illumination, but thoughtful lighting plays a vital role in creating comfortable and productive indoor environments. Modern lighting systems can enhance mood, boost energy levels, and support healthier circadian rhythms.
Smart lighting systems with fine-grained control mechanisms and modern lighting control strategies go a long way toward creating healthier indoor environments. Through careful optimization of these systems, facilities managers can improve occupant well-being while making a sizable dent in energy consumption.
Smart Lighting Systems
Smart lighting systems boast an array of useful features that carefully toe the line between natural circadian rhythms, energy consumption, and task-specific needs. For instance, cooler color temperatures in the morning can boost alertness, while warmer tones in the evening promote relaxation. Occupancy sensors can automatically turn lights on and off when they detect activity, turning them off to save power during downtime.
Lighting Control Strategies
As smart as modern lighting systems are, they can’t operate alone and need some guidance to perform at their best—you must customize lighting to meet your building’s unique needs.
Some strategies to do this include:
- Customize lighting zones for the ideal amount of light in different areas, such as brighter light for detailed visual work and softer light for relaxation spaces like break rooms.
- Install automatic lights in bathrooms, break rooms, and other sporadically unoccupied areas to save power.
- Integrate motion-sensor-activated lighting in areas covered by cloud-based video surveillance systems to automatically deter intruders while providing enough light to capture clear footage.
Advanced Climate Control Systems
Climate control plays a big role in both occupant comfort and building energy consumption. Thankfully, modern HVAC systems offer precise temperature and humidity management that optimizes indoor conditions while reducing operational costs. By automating energy-intensive HVAC systems as much as possible, facilities managers can construct a more comfortable atmosphere for occupants with energy in mind.
Smart HVAC Management
Modern smart HVAC systems aim to maintain comfortable air temperature and humidity with energy consumption in mind. By dividing buildings into zones with independent temperature settings, facilities managers can tailor comfort levels to specific areas while avoiding energy waste in unoccupied spaces.
For example, working spaces occupied from 9 to 5 don’t typically need air conditioning or heating before or after those hours. Occupancy sensors integrated with HVAC controls automatically adjust temperatures based on real-time usage patterns, helping to give a clearer picture of where your biggest energy waste comes from.
IEQ Monitoring
Effective IEQ monitoring involves using sensors to track factors like air quality, lighting, temperature, and humidity within a building. By collecting and analyzing real-time data on pollutants, CO2 levels, and environmental conditions, IEQ systems provide facilities managers with a wealth of valuable data that can take much of the guesswork out of IEQ monitoring.
Humidity is a great example—smart humidification and dehumidification systems work in tandem with temperature controls to maintain optimal moisture levels, typically between 30-60%. This range mitigates the most common health-related problems that crop up, such as mold and overly dry air.
Final Thoughts
Smart building technologies play a more central role in building management today, forcing facilities managers to strike a balance between public health, productivity, and energy consumption. Air quality monitoring, advanced lighting, and intelligent climate control are just a few systems that can improve health by reducing respiratory risks while enhancing productivity and keeping power costs low.
Miles Oliver is an independent writer with a background in business and a passion for tech, news, and simply helping people live happy and fulfilled lives. He has lived and traveled all over the United States and continues to expand his awareness and experiences. When he is not writing, he is most likely mountain biking or kicking back with a cup of tea.