Modern Building Services

FEATURE SMART BUILDINGS MODERN BUILDING SERVICES MARCH 2021 33 With simple installation which avoids the removal or disruption of legacy systems, and straightforward data system integration, remote monitoring has the potential to be infinitely scalable, while remaining unobtrusive to the workforce. In addition, advanced security protocols ensure that data is never accessed by unauthorised parties. The prospective application of these systems is ever evolving, as IoT and its capabilities grow. Where can remote monitoring benefit sustainability in buildings management? Remote monitoring has potential to be leveraged across buildings management, helping as much with the tracking of sustainability goals, as with the application of sustainable procedures and smart decision making. If used well, it can help in the following areas. Reducing the need for field operatives The Covid-19 pandemic necessitated the introduction of new business practices. A reduction of field operative deployment has been a key characteristic of 2020/21, but in many cases, this has only been possible thanks to remote monitoring. The data provided by smart sensors allowed managers – both of facilities and other assets – to make informed decisions about personnel utilisation. With field workers only attending sites where they were really needed, businesses not only saved time and money, but avoided unnecessary disruption, and unnecessary energy consumption. Maintenance management Maintenance is an integral part of facilities management but it’s not always possible to know that the right decisions are being made, or that the intended results will be achieved. Predictive maintenance is one of the key benefits of remote monitoring. With real-time data available on a full range of topics, facilities managers can see where problems are forming, and make informed decisions upon where and how to take action. This proactive approach reduces unnecessary waste and the environmental impact of unscheduled maintenance, while avoiding projects that need not be undertaken. All the while, having solid data to support decisions should accountability ever come into question. HVAC optimisation Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) constitutes one of the largest sustainability drains, while environment and comfort play an enormous part in employee performance. If a building is too cold or too hot, has poor lighting or limited ventilation, it won’t just impact employee motivation, but their health. With smart sensor applications, managers can actively monitor and control HVAC according to building use. Redeploying assets and redesigning the working environment to ensure that spaces are being employed to maximum effect will have a considerable impact on the comfort of the occupants, and the energy bills Compliance management Of the compliance issues faced by facilities managers, legionella is a significant priority but current compliance tactics create a lot of waste. Remote monitoring can show managers where action needs to be taken – has the requisite amount of water flowed through this tap? Has the water temperature reached the required figure? – ensuring compliance without the waste of a full system flush. Again, providing managers with an audit trail necessary to support all decisions made. This can apply to a full range of compliance and environmental, social and governance goals, from cleaning to sustainability. Remote monitoring has developed enormously in just the last year. It can do so much more for so much less, making scalable, cost-effective sustainability an achievable goal for all forms of facilities managers. In 1994, John Elkington wrote about the “triple bottom line”. His argument was that modern business should have three core areas of focus. He termed them ‘the three Ps’: profit, people and planet. The application of remote monitoring within buildings management answers all three responsibilities. Reducing long-term expenditure through predictive maintenance, smart resource allocation and informed compliance processes. Increasing profitability through reduced employee downtime and enhanced productivity. Caring for the planet throughout, with minimised waste, decreased energy use and lowered emissions. With the potential to change the way in which commercial – and residential – buildings are managed, in terms of maintenance, cleaning, asset management and tracking, and energy efficiency and sustainability, remote monitoring will be the future of better buildings management.