Sustainability Trends 2024: As technology advances and as does the quality of data, there is a noticeable shift from smart buildings to autonomous buildings
The world we live in today presents us with a web of complex challenges to contend with. It includes an accelerated pace of urbanisation, the realities of global warming giving rise to unimaginable and unprecedented climactic events, and the ever-increasing volumes of carbon emissions. Nations all over the world have set concrete targets and set in motion strategies to help achieve them.
On the home front, India’s decisive manoeuvres towards achieving total decarbonisation are guided by its status as the world’s third largest energy consumer, and it is very encouraging to see that measurable impact is already being seen.
Moreover, all economic and political actors are coming together on a single platform to bring India across the finish line in time. While developing a strategic blueprint for India’s journey to net zero, there are certain subjects, like green buildings, that require urgent attention.
Today, buildings account for almost 40 percent of global carbon emissions, making them a key area where intervention is required. The infusion of technology in buildings in India has matured a fair bit, with positive results. AI has transformed the way in which buildings are managed, operated, and ultimately experienced by their occupants.
Artificial Intelligence - an enabler so far:
So far, AI’s transformative force has extended its influence on building operations and management in a myriad of ways:
● Streamlining processes: The advanced building management system is capable of enhancing a building’s energy use, and strengthening its security, and maintenance practices. It possesses the capability to analyse occupancy patterns and make real-time adjustments to heating and cooling systems based on the observed patterns.
This is significant because there are a lot of energy savings of up to 15 percent to be made with the optimisation and automation of heating and cooling (HVAC) systems. Additionally, it can dynamically adjust lighting levels in response to the presence or absence of natural light, optimising energy consumption and creating a more comfortable environment for occupants.
● Proactive facility management: Building management systems powered by AI and ML are capable of predictive analytics that help greatly in the uninterrupted and efficient operations of a building. Predicting potential equipment malfunctions, for instance, enables personnel to proactively address the issues before they become untenable.
By leveraging machine learning algorithms and sensor data, the system identifies irregularities and signals of wear and tear, providing timely alerts to personnel. This proactive approach not only saves time and money but also minimises downtime and maintenance costs associated with unexpected equipment failures.
● Making room for innovation: The building management system has been useful in enabling facility managers to focus on discovering innovative ways to measure and monitor benchmarks for building operations.
Through data-driven insights, managers can set, track, and calibrate key performance indicators related to energy consumption, security protocols, and maintenance efficiency. This results in a system that is characterised by continuous refinement and optimisation of strategies, thereby constantly improving its performance and resource utilisation.
Magnifying the promise of AI in 2024:
As we look towards 2024, developments in the realm of artificial intelligence will undoubtedly influence the trajectory of tech solutions for building automation and optimisation for net-zero emissions. What will unfold is an era of enhanced user experience and enhanced sustainability quotient.
● Generative AI: The introduction of generative AI has changed the way we work. As it grows to become more sophisticated and dynamic, its transformative potential in buildings is tremendous.
These systems will have the capability to autonomously process data and execute reactionary responsibilities (going beyond automating'repetitive' tasks), thereby eliminating the need for human intervention in such processes and, in some cases, enhancing the overall efficiency of interventions.
● Enhanced occupant experiences through the convergence of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices: When the disparate systems within the industrial internet of things ecosystem are de-compartmentalised to form one cohesive and interconnected unit, we are enabled to gather data from industrial devices, sensors, machines, and systems for intelligent decision-making and process optimisation.
This can then be leveraged using AI and generative AI to enhance the personalisation and customisation of occupant experiences while gaining valuable insights into their individual preferences and deploying interactive AI assistants.
● Making smart buildings smarter: As technology advances and as does the quality of data, there is a noticeable shift from smart buildings to autonomous buildings. Autonomous buildings are characterised by a higher level of automation and sophisticated decision-making capabilities.
Autonomous buildings can independently operate and adapt to changing conditions rather than having to rely on humans for remote control. This departure is marked by a building’s ability to leverage advanced data analytics, machine learning, and predictive algorithms to make decisions and optimise performance over time.
Where the opportunity for technological advancements is visibly limitless, so too is the opportunity for the institution of green buildings. India’s greenfield lies in the fact that ~70 percent of India’s real estate stock hasn’t even been built yet, giving us the opportunity to develop it sustainably.
This, along with the growth and advancement of green technology and adequate regulatory fixtures to implement green codes and standards, can tip the scales in India’s favour as it navigates its path towards a greener future.
(Sivakumar Selva Ganapathy is Vice President, OpenBlue India Software Engineering & APAC Solutions, Johnson Controls.)