design
features into a new construction project can significantly increase
the energy efficiency of the building while also providing enhanced
occupant comfort.
Smart buildings take advantage of information exchange to provide
a flexible, productive, and cost-effective environment for building
occupants.There is a high demand for smart buildings in the
marketplace, with a majority of office tenants citing features
available through smart buildings infrastructure as important
features for their office spaces. Total life-cycle costs for smart
buildings are generally lower than costs for conventional buildings
due to large energy and churn cost savings to building tenants, as
well as lower vacancies, increased lease income,and lower tenant
improvement costs for building owners.
Information exchange in smart buildings occurs through a
highbandwidth cabling infrastructure that connects with all
components of the telecom; heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning (HVAC); lighting; fire, life and safety (FL&S);
and security systems.A Building Automation System (BAS) with
microprocessor-based controls in each building zone transfers
information through this cabling system, providing the sensory
functions, signal processing, and control responses that lead to
smart-building operation. Building automation systems that include
a "smart metering" component for electricity and other utilities
further increases the energy management capabilities available with
smart buildings, giving facilities managers the information
necessary to make better decisions that can reduce overall energy
use and costs.
To minimize the cost impact of providing smart-building
capabilities, they should be incorporated into the design of new
facilities from the beginning-retrofitting these systems into an
existing building is far more expensive and disruptive than simply
getting it right the first time. Starting early affords greater
opportunities to integrate and consolidate different building
system functions into fewer independent systems, which can reduce
overall complexity.
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