Smart buildings are essential for smart grids and smart cities
Although, we typically focus on smart buildings in facilities management, you’ll notice that there are three terms that make up our headline: smart buildings, smart grids, and smart cities. They’re essentially different parts of one jigsaw puzzle.
In this first blog we will seek to define the terms we use and what the pieces of the puzzle look like in isolation from each other. Let’s consider each of them on its own before we draw them together in part 2 of this series which will define the relationships and demonstrate why smart buildings are indeed essential for smart grids and cities.
What is a smart city?
A smart city can be defined as a city that’s driven by technology and by extension data-based solutions, which it leverages with a range of goals in mind. These are principally:
- Better quality of life for residents
- Greater efficiency in city operations
- Improved sustainability
- Increased economic development
Smart cities achieve these aims by using technologies to help control a wide range of domains like traffic congestion, pollution, resource usage, and others. As such, one way to identify and characterize smart cities is through the wide range of technologies they deploy. Smart city technologies can consist of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, a wide variety of sensors, diverse communications networks, analytics software, and much more.
All this technology leads to an outcome that’s also characteristic of smart cities: data-driven decision-making. In smart cities, the raw data collected from these various sources is used to better understand trends, patterns, and problems within the urban environment. It’s an approach that means in the smart city, officials are in position to make informed decisions and implement targeted interventions to address issues that affect citizens more effectively.
If technology and data are the primary hallmarks of the smart city, there are lots of other characteristics worth noting including, such as:
- Better transportation, which is achieved through intelligent traffic management, real-time public transportation tracking, bike-sharing programs, and infrastructure for electric vehicles.
- Widespread sustainability initiatives which focus on reducing energy consumption, minimizing environmental impact, and promoting resource efficiency. Smart cities commonly invest in smart energy grids, waste management systems, and green building practices.
- More engaged citizens. Smart cities use digital platforms to get feedback, address issues, and involve citizens in decision-making to help align government initiatives with the needs and preferences of the community.
Generally, the ideal goal of a smart city is to create more livable and sustainable urban environments by using technology and data to address complex challenges.
What is a smart grid?
Now that we have taken some time to define a smart city, what is the smart grid? Basically, it’s an advanced electrical grid infrastructure that, like the city itself, utilizes digital technology, communication networks, and automation with the goal of improving the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption. It (almost) goes without saying that the smart city utilizes a smart grid.
The smart grid prioritizes enabling and coordinating not just communication between utility providers and consumers but also between the different components of the grid infrastructure like power plants, substations, and meters. When a two-way communication exists between the above end points, it enables actions like real-time monitoring, control, and optimization of the flow of electricity.
Smart grids unsurprisingly use smart meters, and these devices give access to detailed data on energy consumption patterns that benefit both consumers and utility providers. With these meters customers can better monitor and manage their electricity usage, while the utility can implement demand-response programs and optimize grid operations. Smart grid technology includes and relies on sensors and monitoring devices that accrue data on voltage, current, power flow, and other parameters.
Again, there’s much more. Smart grids allow multiple energy sources to be easily integrated (for instance; solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries). They use algorithms and control systems to optimize grid operation and can dynamically adjust generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity to match supply with demand. Broadly, their effect on the grid infrastructure is transformative. In simple terms, a smart grid is more flexible, adaptive, and intelligent than its predecessor.
There’s a picture here when we combine the first two pieces of the jigsaw puzzle, right? The glue binding things together is information, and the ability to act on it.
What is a smart building?
Like cities and grids, smart buildings use technology and associated systems to automate and optimize various aspects of building operations with the aim of enhancing efficiency, comfort, security, and sustainability. Smart buildings also deploy sensors and other connected devices that collect data and enable automated control and management of building systems such as lighting, HVAC, and energy usage.
Let’s look at the key features. In smart buildings, automated systems are used to adjust lighting, temperature, and other parameters based on metrics like occupancy, time of day, and factors like weather conditions. Different building systems like HVAC, lighting, and energy management, will be integrated with each other, letting them communicate to optimize overall performance.
Data from sensors and devices is collected and then used to identify patterns and trends leading to opportunities for optimization. The data collected is the cornerstone of better decision-making and continuous improvement of building operations. It also enables facilities managers to monitor and control various aspects of the building remotely through a centralized management system or sometimes via mobile applications.
In smart buildings, energy-efficient technologies such as smart thermostats, energy-efficient lighting, and automated energy management systems that reduce consumption and environmental impact are table stakes.
All in all, smart buildings are a story of leveraging technology to create more efficient, comfortable, and sustainable environments for occupants and users, while also providing benefits such as cost savings and improved operational performance for building owners and managers.
What happens next?
The smart building, smart grid, and smart city define the landscape we’re all now progressing toward. In part 2, now that we have defined the pieces involved, we’ll focus on why smart buildings are perhaps the essential component in the broader landscape of smart city and smart grid.
At NexRev, we’ve been unlocking the power of facility and energy management data with over a million connected devices across North America. Our team of experts is focused on helping you deliver more with your budgets, infrastructure, and assets to create sustainable savings in operations and energy, reducing your risk and increasing operational confidence.
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