How building automation is shaping the world we live in?

The growing demand for efficient energy management and increasing emphasis on coping with utility costs are driving building automation to the next levels. Most buildings in developed nations are already equipped with these solutions. The advent of smart building techniques is doing more tasks and executing them faster and easier than traditional generations of devices, driving savings and efficiency. The latest building technology includes lighting, heating, automatic centralized control, conditioning and other building automation systems. Rapid and relentless advances in cost-effective silicon, AI, cloud-enabled solutions and more have driven the traditional and modern home solutions vendors to add intelligence to all functions in the house.

Considering the report, the global market of building automation systems is anticipated to reach from US$75 billion in 2019 to US$140.3 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 11 percent.

Here’s a look at the top building automation trends everyone should notice in 2020.

Network Integration

Automation is the most essential technology in smart building systems. Different systems in buildings have been their own siloed closed blocks, with their own interfaces and zero communication with external systems. Automation here is now starting to get fully integrated into the same network with other systems like fire alarms, access control units, elevators, and others. The center of this network in a cloud. In a smart building, communication of these networks with each other is easier and possible. For instance, the Internet of Buildings such as people, traffic, city infrastructures and buildings, will all communicate with one another.

Building Automation via Wireless

There is no wonder that as we are approaching the digital world, everything will be wireless. Building automation technology is not an exception. Wireless functionality in smart buildings makes installation and modifications easier and remote operation more possible. As it provides flexibility and ease of installation, connecting automation to the cloud is easy and effective. This surely augments the demand for wireless technologies increasing competition that keeps the R&D departments busy.

Energy Efficiency

Building automation and control functions must be based on their impact on a building's efficiency. It promotes higher energy efficiency in buildings, saves building operating costs, existing energy resources and reduces CO2 emissions. There are a few numbers of buildings that have access to any form of real-time energy reporting. Using advanced technology like IoT can assist in gaining access to real-time monitoring of electricity, water and gas meters. Also, access to real-time submetering data can emphasize clear inefficiencies in the building. 

Virtual Smart Building (BAS)

Smart Building technology will always play a crucial role in the retrofit market, particularly with older buildings that have an obsolete BAS or small/medium-sized buildings that don’t feature a BAS. The use of IoT enables virtual BAS technology that can manage HVAC and lighting systems using cloud-based controls. These controls can apply schedules for weekends and holidays, while also implementing complex control routines based on IoT sensors in heating/cooling zones. The lightweight nature of a virtual BAS provides high-impact functionality at a fraction of the cost of installation of a conventional BAS system.