Artificial Intelligence (AI), using the Internet of Things (IoT) solutions is essential to building owners and managers. Apart from improving building performance, it can go a long way in lowering carbon emissions, energy use and costs, which are hallmarks of green engineering.
Smart buildings are touted as a vital tool that will aid in decarbonising the construction sector and reduce global temperature rise. For people who may not know, smart buildings are structures that utilise a combination of digital and automated tools to optimise performance.
Figures from the International Energy Agency (IEA) 2020 Global Status Report on energy-related CO2 emissions paint a grim picture. The built environment and associated operations accounted for 38% of energy-related CO2 worldwide emissions.
Even the COP27 Climate Conference in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, recognised the significance of building decarbonisation. More than 140 of the events captured the role of tech initiatives like AI and IoT in the real estate sector.
Intelligent and purpose-made building solutions based on IoT and AI play an essential part in providing long-term sustainability in the globe’s building sector. After all, the 2021 Global Status Report for Building and Construction points out that the world’s building stock should be at net zero emissions by 2050.
Smart technology can be used to keep track of a building’s aspects and overall management. It can range from heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) to the consumption and allocation of energy.
AI incorporating IoT can elevate the building’s management system by allowing it to learn, analyse and solve problems for better optimisation and decarbonisation infrastructure.
AI’s Role in Enabling Smart Building Systems
AI’s role in our day-to-day lives cannot be understated. From social media handles to entertainment streaming programs, AI has latched onto every device or gadget we use. However, on an industrial building scale, AI can hasten society’s journey of curbing carbon emissions.
Let’s look at HVAC systems as a real-life example. HVAC and lighting alone account for approximately 50% of energy usage in a standard commercial building like a casino. It means that coming up with central and automation technologies has a huge impact on reducing waste and conserving energy.
A standard, non-programmable thermostat that doesn’t use AI, is set at the required temperature. If the temperature deviates from the setting, an automatic response triggers the HVAC through an electrical connection. In the presence of AI technology, the existing HVAC can be enhanced to learn, analyse and solve problems.
Consider a casino lobby with revolving doors that allow outside air into the premises. A typical HVAC equipment would find it a hassle to maintain the changing temperatures. However, with an AI-upgraded HVAC, the system immediately studies and adapts to the dynamic environment for efficient, pocket-friendly heating and cooling.
The concept can go further in a casino’s main playing area filled with tables and slot machines. Unlike online casinos where players can play from the comfort of their couches or on the go, their land-based counterparts cannot enjoy the same luxury.
Many casino players flock to the casinos on weekends where you’ll find packed tables and slots during peak evening hours. With the power of machine learning (ML), AI can conclusively deduce that a casino’s communal gaming area gets warmer in the evening as more patrons fill up the tables and slots. Better yet, the AI can adjust the air conditioning before the evening period, ensuring the area’s temperature remains constant.
The AI’s quick and concise auto-adjustment not only preserves energy, it also allows the patrons to play casino games in a comfortable scenario similar to their peers at online real-money casinos. If the casino uses smart/intelligent tables for their games, the players’ experience will get better through improved ratings and responsible gaming.
Climate change is a global concern where with intelligent technology systems, there can be knowledge sharing, brainstorming and collaborations among industry stakeholders. There are innovations in Europe that have leveraged AI and IoT to better their buildings.
In the UK, Manchester Metropolitan University has initiated an internet-based Building Management System (BMS). The BMS has automatic controls and round-the-clock internet browser access to air quality and lighting, alarms, updates and scheduling for temperature.
With such innovations, the university’s recently constructed Grosvenor East Building was certified ‘Excellent’ courtesy of the UK’s Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM). Efficiency AI combined with IoT is intelligent enough to use machine learning to provide environmental and financial benefits 24/7 all year round. If we incorporate smart management into our buildings, and lower energy use and emissions, AI is capable of a safe and sustainable future for humanity.
