What makes an Intelligent Building Smart?

Just a few years ago intelligent buildings were seen as the wave of the future with few examples. Now they are on their way to becoming to the new tradition in construction and building management, especially with the evolution of LEED certification. What makes all of this possible? The answer to that question is: integrated data systems. By combing convergent infrastructures, Building Automation Systems (BAS) and CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems), the intelligent building has become a lean energy and money saving machine.

Conduit convergence is the foundation of an intelligent building, and is often planned for new construction, but any existing building can have it installed. It is a cabling infrastructure that shares a common network. This includes many components such as HVAC, lighting, parking, security, and elevators. It is then all integrated onto one IP or Ethernet network and converted into IP by a control system. This is where the layers of the software tie together in order to create the elements of a comprehensive building management system.

Building Automation Systems (BAS) such as Honeywell, Johnson Controls and Siemens, are interfaced directly with the IP control system. Typically BAS begins with the control of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. A BAS can provide a wealth of data related to your building performance, which leads to improved decision making, especially when you integrate a CMMS (computerized maintenance management software) solution with a BAS.

Eagle Technology’s CMMS software is an incredibly powerful analytical tool with many benefits. It goes beyond a simple maintenance and asset management software program; it acts as a data repository for intelligent buildings. Data is collected and organized for immediate action and long-term review. This is how companies can reduce energy consumption, as well as reduce company expenditures.

Even as early as the implementation process, a lot of companies discover that they will save millions in energy costs, as well as inventory and labor costs. A CMMS solution is programmed to pull information from assets like the HVAC system. Over a period of time, this data exposes patterns such as temperature changes and faulty sensors or changes in controls. Other examples of important data include: service, repair history, and how many hours that were worked. That kind of information is leveraged by CMMS users to make decisions regarding costs and productivity. Another important feature of Eagle’s CMMS solution is that it collects the data in real time, so that there is no delay in the data stream that will impede important decision making.

As we move forward into a more environmentally conscience future and attempt to reduce costs, continuing emphasis will be placed not only on the intelligent building, but how to leverage the data output of the intelligent building. Integrating a BAS system and CMMS software with a building’s convergent structure provides the solution necessary to make decisions that will reduce energy consumption and related costs.

Smart Building