Today’s workplace can’t afford to be static. Businesses face rising energy costs, growing sustainability mandates, and the challenge of keeping employees engaged in an evolving work environment. Smart buildings, powered by IoT sensors, automation, and data analytics, are reshaping the modern office into a dynamic, responsive space that adapts in real-time.
Smart buildings can help boost employee well-being while improving operational efficiency and environmental performance, helping organisations meet both productivity and sustainability goals.
Boosting Employee Comfort and Experience
Stagnant employee engagement and declining well-being in recent years indicate a worrying stall in workforce progress, impacting both individuals and organisational productivity. A Gallup study reveals the staggering cost: disengaged employees drain $8.9 trillion annually, or about 9% of global GDP. In the US alone, companies lose about $450-$550 billion a year. While some issues stem beyond the physical environment, a comfortable and healthy workplace can significantly improve employee well-being. Here’s how smart buildings can create a happier, more productive environment for you:
- Climate Control: Smart buildings use sensors to detect temperature changes and automatically adjust settings in real-time, ensuring a consistently comfortable environment that keeps everyone productive. Studies by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) show that offering occupants greater control over temperature and lighting can contribute to direct productivity gains of 0.5 to 5 percent.
- Adaptable Lighting: Harsh overhead lights or gloomy workspaces can lead to eye strain and fatigue. Smart buildings utilise sensors to adjust lighting throughout the day based on natural light levels. This creates an optimal working environment that reduces eye strain and fosters a more pleasant atmosphere for all employees.
- Smooth Operations: Smart buildings leverage sensors to monitor the health of critical assets like elevators and escalators. By anticipating maintenance needs, these systems can prevent disruptions and ensure everything functions smoothly, reducing frustration and keeping the workday on track.
- Proactive Cleaning: Sensor-driven cleaning uses usage data to trigger cleaning notifications, ensuring a clean and healthy work environment. In restrooms, for instance, sensors might track door openings. When usage reaches a predefined threshold, a cleaning notification is automatically triggered.
Smarter Resource Management for a Sustainable Future
The built environment is a major contributor to global energy consumption. In Europe, buildings are responsible for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. Smart buildings enhance resource management and sustainability through several key mechanisms, particularly by optimising heating and cooling systems equating for almost half of energy use in buildings. Here’s how it works:
- Energy Efficiency: Smart buildings use sensors and automation to optimise energy usage based on occupancy and environmental conditions. This includes adjusting heating, cooling, and lighting to minimise energy waste.
- Optimised Space Utilisation: Through data analytics and occupancy sensors, smart buildings can optimise space usage. This reduces the need for maintenance on underutilised areas or unnecessary expansion and construction, saving resources and lowering environmental impact.
- Waste Reduction: Sensors can track bin fullness and optimise waste collection schedules, minimising unnecessary pickups and fuel consumption.
Taking Smart Building Data to the Next Level
To fully realise the potential of smart building technology, data needs to be centralised and actionable. That’s where an Integrated Workplace Management System (IWMS) like Nuvolo Connected Workplace comes in.
By integrating IoT data with lease management, maintenance history, and space utilisation records, workplace leaders can:
- Make informed, real-time decisions about space resources and energy use.
- Identify rightsizing opportunities with accurate occupancy metrics.
- Streamline maintenance and asset management for better performance and reduced downtime.
With the right smart building + IWMS strategy, organisations can enhance productivity, lower costs, and meet ESG targets all from a single connected platform.