Modern Building Services

MODERN BUILDING SERVICES APRIL 2021 19 FEATURE LIGHTING what the fault is, order the part and then go back to fix it; it is now a one visit scenario. Of course, that really means big cost saving in the future because you will be able to predict when things will need maintenance and take action immediately, so that data is hugely valuable. Smart lighting controls should be utilised to gain maximum benefit from the energy being used within a building. When the building is not occupied, the sensors in the lighting should be able to react quickly and dim down or even only turn on when that luminaire or lighting in that particular area is needed. This is one of the main benefits for a building manager or FM company who manages a building; it’s down to cost savings, maximising energy efficiency, and obviously providing a comfortable environment for occupants. Aggregate and store Another huge benefit is knowing that all of the services within a building can talk to each other from either a central or cloud perspective and that data is converged in one front-end rather than having lots of disparate systems; the systems put into a building nowmust be able to aggregate and store data and allowmanagers to make real-time valuable decisions. Also, having more converged and integrated systems is less expensive. There are fewer systems to manage, and everything can be done from one place, which is a big advantage for the people running a building. With the advent of circadian lighting, we can add a level of comfort and control over the lighting, whether that’s localised or centralised, the occupants of the building can select the colour temperature and intensity of the lighting and, of course, all of that is designed to make the environment more dynamic and a better experience. If you want a more relaxed environment, you will choose a warmer colour, or to be more energised, you’d select a cooler colour. Howwe interact with lighting is also important, ensuring we get the right light levels; poor lighting levels generally lead to reduced concentration and awareness. Many health benefits can be gained from circadian lighting for individuals. The technology also offers benefits for the health of the building, and of course, energy efficiency is part of that. It’s all about future-proofing your building – ensuring your building is used to its full potential and energy isn’t wasted, it should be the perfect environment for the people within it and the tasks that are being carried out”. “We all know that data these days is more valuable than gold.”