15 Feb, 2022
Abstract
The need for sustainable, energy efficient buildings has never been more urgent. With energy crises induced by global warming, political unrest, and a growing population, architects and designers have the obligation to produce buildings that are at peak efficiency. Particularly in the workplace, there is an increasing importance on designing buildings that can change and adapt to future needs, while providing healthy and comfortable indoor conditions. This paper argues that centralized building management systems can accommodate these challenges, and the direction of technological advances make them the inevitable option for new construction and renovation for office buildings. The paper explores a series of case studies to investigate the energy saving benefits that come from implementing centralised automation systems connected with internet of things (Iot) pertaining to heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting control. They not only result in increased efficiency but are shown to alter human behaviour for further energy saving measures. Occupant satisfaction is then discussed by relating degree of user-control and post-occupancy satisfaction, and how a centralised system can suffice both. Moreover, the paper explores how a centralised management system is vital for occupant health and wellbeing stemming from its ability to provide optimal lighting conditions, as well as constantly monitor air quality levels to reduce spread of airborne illnesses. Finally, the paper reviews a case study that successfully incorporates an IoT-connected centralized management system for superior performance, health, and satisfaction.
Introduction
The role of buildings is to provide a shelter for inhabitants. For office spaces, the goal is to create a space for optimal productivity and output. Occupant comfort plays an enormous role; satisfactory indoor conditions have been linked to increased productivity and wellbeing in numerous studies [1]. Standards like WELL and Fitwel encourage this early in the design process. However, the role of architects has transformed into one where mitigating environmental impact is now a design criterion.
Universally, there is an increasing demand for buildings to adopt efficient and regenerative practices. Buildings account for nearly one-third of global energy use and 55% of electricity demand [2]. A growing number of countries, cities, and corporations are adopting net zero carbon and energy ambitions, and buildings must be a consideration in strategy implementation. Moreover, future buildings must be able to cope with unforeseen energy crises from both global warming and political conflicts, like the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. The challenge many designers face is how to balance the two often competing objectives of energy efficiency and user satisfaction.
Buildings that deploy user-controlled management systems often carry with them a wide array of issues like disagreements between employees about thermal conditions [3] and wasted heating and lighting supplied to unoccupied spaces [4]. Moreover, they are less efficient than centralized, dynamic systems because they operate based maximum design criteria and fixed schedules [5].
Many new buildings are implementing building management systems (BMS) and energy management systems (EMS) that link components like HVAC, lighting, electricity, security, fire safety, etc. to a centralized network on the internet of things (IoT). These systems can be automated with sensors to optimise thermal comfort and energy use [6]. They result in buildings that are often up to 50% more efficient than conventional systems [7]. However, many post-occupancy surveys suggests that dissatisfaction about indoor environmental conditions is still prevalent; a 2015 survey of office building occupants found that nearly 50% of employees were unhappy with working conditions several times a month [8]. The question of how designers can go about achieving both goals to attain optimal outcomes needs to be addressed.
This paper argues that a centralized building energy management system provides a solution for both. A series of case studies will demonstrate the latest developments and their energy saving results. By implementing an intelligent centralized system, hardware and software can be easily updated and maintained with progressions in green building technologies without costly and carbon intensive replacements. Emerging technology incorporates aspects of customization and interaction to suffice inhabitants’ desire for conditional control by implementing local autonomy, real time energy use feedback, and providing multiple thermal zones within a building. They also promote health by monitoring air quality and ventilation, which has become critical since the rise of COVID-19. A centralized management system in office buildings is more important than user control because it results in more energy efficient buildings, can be easily maintained, and updated with the latest green-building technology, and yield higher levels of occupant wellbeing and satisfaction.
Impact on Efficiency and Building Performance
Sustainable buildings deploy countless strategies to meet their agendas; proper orientation and form, thermal envelope performance, passive ventilation, lighting, heating, and cooling, and the integration of renewable energy generation. Once these variables are optimized, careful consideration should be given to how the energy in the building is used. Numerous technologies have emerged to optimise performance, and traditional energy-hogging HVAC systems are being upgraded to the latest innovations. More so than the individual devices themselves, greater energy savings can be achieved when they are treated as an interconnected system [9].
This can be accomplished with building automation systems; centralized computer-based control systems that monitor electrical and mechanical equipment and can regulate up to 70% of the building systems energy use [10]. The centralized network is IoT-connected to enable sending and receiving of information. This allows data collection, occupancy and weather pattern finding, predictions and reactions to conditions, fault detection, and provides direction for future implementation [11]. 53% of today’s intelligent building management systems are used in commercial buildings, and of these, 44% are office buildings [11]. There are countless ways designers are using this technology to their benefit.
Monitoring and minimizing the energy consumption of HVAC was a goal for Bekiroglu et al, who developed an algorithm with sensors to measure environmental conditions of thermal zones, a scheduler that receives HVAC requests, an actuator to change conditions, and a web interface for building managers and occupants to visualize data. The pilot building at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore showed a 20% energy savings after implementing the technology. [12].
Intelligent systems are not limited to the building’s enclosure. Using this data, predictions about thermal demands can be made and adjusted to. Luo et al. developed a system using sensors installed both inside and outside the building to record the temperature of walls, windows, floors, roofs, other surfaces, and ambient air conditions. Characteristics of daily weather profiles are identified and used to create weekly, monthly, and annual patterns. They used this technology to inform system updates and equipment sizing [13].
Another component of building automation services is lighting control. Centralized control systems often use strict occupancy schedules. They can be beneficial for night-time energy savings by lowering light levels after working hours, but neglect daytime adjustments. This often leads to the unnecessary use of artificial lights when natural light could have provided sufficient conditions and wasted energy. Task tuning—automatic adjusting of levels based on daylight factor and tasks designated to the space—can save 36% of lighting energy use [14]. Warmerdam et al. have proposed a system where sensors and controls are connected to luminaires. Data from outdoor lighting levels, daylight factors, occupancy levels, patterns and preferences are collected to inform lighting power density, position and orientation of luminaires, and future design considerations [15].
Centralized building management systems can reduce energy demand by promoting awareness and changing occupant behaviour. Rafsanjani et al. developed an IoT-based system that provides energy-use information to individual occupants through their smartphones. The framework uses an energy efficiency index to track and categorise behaviours as ‘efficient’ or ‘inefficient’ and gives feedback to them directly. After implementing their technology over a twelve-week period in a 10-person office space, there was a 34% energy savings [16].
Centralized management systems are the first step in incorporating energy saving technologies like IoT. User-controlled systems lack the ability to adapt to latest technology, and each system acts as an independent organization. This often leads to redundant operations and wasted energy [17]. Building management and energy systems can update both their software and hardware to the latest sustainable building practices [12]. Moreover, they are adaptable to how both the building use and planet change with time.
Impact on Health, Wellbeing, and Satisfaction
User satisfaction is a vital component for productive office design; studies have found a direct link between degree of perceived satisfaction and control of room conditions [10]. Providing occupants with autonomy can have a significant effect on working conditions. When designing these systems, it is important to look at the mechanisms of control that have the greatest impact.
A 2018 study from the School of Engineering and Built Environment at Griffth University found that the relationship between level of control and satisfaction is based on the effectiveness of the control mechanisms. The strategies with the greatest impact were operable windows, blinds, and task lighting. The ones with the smallest were mechanical operations like ventilation, humidity, and temperature [18]. Another study from the 17th Pacific Rim Real Estate Society Conference found that the top five criteria for user satisfaction were (1) temperatures that adapt to external conditions, (2) the ability to have private conversations, (3) optimal air quality and feeling well ventilated, (4) flexible workspaces, and (5) glare control [19]; all of which can be achieved in a centralized management system.
Emerging building management technology incorporates aspects of user interaction. This can include feedback of the building’s energy savings, thermal and lighting control over bookable office spaces, and reporting occupancy levels in different areas of the building. A 2019 study from the Netherlands found that people were more satisfied with their conditions when knew they had some degree of control; regardless of the conditions and if they set them [5]. This suggests the technique called nudging: altering human behaviour to lead to targeted outcomes by improving choice architecture, and people generally opt for the default option [5]. By informing users of autonomy and showing them the environmental benefits associated with the set conditions, it encourages them to choose the conditions optimal for energy savings. A 2022 study from the University of Technology Sydney explored this idea and found that users often turned off artificial lighting when natural lighting was sufficient [20].
Occupant satisfaction and productivity has been linked to other characteristics of centralised management systems that go beyond occupant control. Satisfactory lighting conditions have a large impact on health, comfort, and wellbeing. Katabaro et al. found roughly half of respondents in a 171-person study reported problems including glare (natural and artificial sources), buzzing, flickering, unattractive hues, lack of natural light, and conditions that were too dim. As a result, they reported problems of lowered concentration, headaches, and fatigue [21]. These can be negated with sensory automatic lighting control. When studying buildings with dynamic tinting mechanisms, Jamrozik et al. found that working memory, inhibition, satisfaction, and eyestrain were improved by using this system compared to a baseline design [22].
Air quality is another significant indicator of occupant satisfaction, health, and safety. Proper ventilation has become vital since returning to work after the rise of COVID-19. Automatic building management systems can sense and adjust to changes in occupancy and concentration of pollutants. Jeon et al. created a system that detects occupancy through concentration of dust, and air quality through concentration of particulate matter. The building then adjusts ventilation rates. Without systems that ensure proper air quality, occupants can suffer illnesses like sick building syndrome, which can have a detrimental effect on workers’ productivity [23].
By combining a building automation system, feedback to users, and a degree of control over thermal zone, blinds, and task lighting, a central management system can create a sense of inclusion, purpose, and choice that leads to high levels of user satisfaction. Moreover, centralized building management systems can provide optimal conditions to promote occupant wellbeing, health, and satisfaction.
Case Study: Southworks, London
Several buildings have adopted these strategies and have seen the benefits associated with a highly intelligent central management system. One example is Southworks Office Building in London. Constructed in 2021, it is a six story, 6,500 square meter, tenant-leased office building [24].
The management system is built on a single-digital network that operates as the brain and links sensors to the Iot. It connects HVAC, lighting, density, occupancy, noise, and more to measure data, make connections, and give occupants feedback on building conditions.
A central component is the ‘OfficeApp’ that provides user interactions: from booking meeting rooms, controlling their local lighting conditions, see building energy use across days and weeks, and see how benchmark buildings are doing. Building managers can communicate maintenance schedules and outages through the app.
The building includes measures relating to COVID-19 safety, health, and wellbeing. The OfficeApp allows for touchless features like elevators and light. It also monitors occupancy flows for both short-term social distance management and healthy ventilation and air quality levels. Occupants get air quality updates and alerts when necessary. The building also includes various sustainability components. The façade incorporates smart glass bricks that detect temperature and lighting conditions, and they adapt to ensure comfortable internal conditions.
The energy savings, health and wellbeing standards, and prime location has earned it numerous certifications: BREEAM ‘Outstanding’, an Energy Performance Certificate ‘A’ rating, a ‘Gold’ Wired Score, ‘Platinum’ Cycling Score, and ‘Platinum’ Smart Building Certification rating. Southworks demonstrates how incorporating intelligent building and energy management systems is vital to achieving futuristic sustainability goals while providing superb user satisfaction and comfort [25].
Conclusion
In conclusion, centralized management systems in office buildings is more important than user control because it results in more energy efficient buildings, can be easily maintained, updated with the latest green-building technology, and yield higher levels of occupant wellbeing and satisfaction. They result in a more energy efficient building by negating redundant human errors and wasted energy. They can use sensors like occupancy, lighting, and electric power demand to connect and optimise all systems. They predict patterns and energy use, which can inform building management about current practices, repairs, and future construction. They also result in increased user satisfaction. Conditions are based on dynamic responses, rather than strict occupancy schedules, to maintain comfortable and healthy conditions. Centralized systems incorporate a degree of control and feedback that allows for personalisation that creates inclusiveness and participations in an overall sustainable building agenda. Energy efficient buildings are necessary. Designers must be able to cope with population growth, increased urbanisation and density, unforeseen energy crises, and future environmental catastrophes. Centralized building systems are the way of the future to create architecture that addresses sustainability from the environmental, economic, and social perspectives.
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