Understanding Smart Building Systems

Good businesses know their markets are constantly changing, and the mechanical contracting industry is no exception. Gone are the days of standard facility management, as new developments in smart building systems offer complete control of your facility’s operational efficiency.

What Is a Smart Building?

A smart building incorporates technology to monitor your facility’s use of resources. Smart building systems measure your facility’s status and efficiency, then create data reports that are sent to your network. You can then use this information to adjust your operations, enhancing the performance of your building systems.

Applications for Smart Building Systems

There are several practical uses for smart building systems, including:

Automation

Smart building systems combine several core facility functions under one management interface. By connecting technology such as Iot sensors, security cameras, and building management systems, you get a holistic view of your daily operations. With this data, you can automate several processes, including:

Heating
Cooling
Lighting
Ventilation
Alarms
Security

Integration

Once that data is collected, you can combine it with your other building management sensors. Sharing and integrating this data throughout your facility raises your software’s value. Luckily, smart building systems can easily integrate with your current systems, ensuring a seamless approach to your building management transition.

Maintenance

Smart building systems help you identify whether assets need maintenance. By monitoring your daily production, smart technology detects and alerts you about abnormal usage patterns. This early detection is key to resolving maintenance issues before they snowball into a larger problem.

Optimization

The data collected by smart building systems is essential to identify what areas of your facility need improvement. Across every building, there are three main facility functions that benefit from optimization:

Security

Smart building systems are also valuable for businesses looking to optimize their security management. Smart building security solutions are some of the most reliable on the market, giving you an unparalleled degree of security by overseeing:

Live video
Key card data
Scanners
Entryways
Security cameras
Building occupancy
Occupant patterns

Smart building systems enable you to closely monitor who enters your facility and give you detailed activity logs for each area in your building.

HVAC

HVAC operations account for approximately 40% to 60% of a commercial building’s energy bills. As your HVAC system ages, it becomes less efficient, using more energy to maintain the right temperatures. Because it happens gradually, this decline often goes overlooked. Luckily, smart building systems measure your operational performance so you can make improvements to reduce your HVAC’s energy use.

Lighting

Smart building systems can also be integrated with your building’s lighting, allowing you to measure and optimize your energy use. You can then retrofit your facility to replace outdated, inefficient lighting fixtures with higher-performing lights like LEDs. Making the switch to a more efficient fixture delivers significant energy savings month after month.

Looking for the best security systems Atlanta has to offer? Learn what to look for in potential providers.

The Benefits of Smart Building Analytics

By using data analytics to optimize your building management, you’ll experience the following advantages:

Increased Productivity

Comfort is critical to a productive workspace. You need to ensure your facility delivers the best in:

Security
Sanitation
Lighting
Comfort
Efficient Processes
Indoor Air Quality

By better managing these aspects of your facility, you cultivate a workspace free from distractions where your employees can focus.

Reduced Energy Consumption

Using smart building systems to reduce energy use isn’t limited to just HVAC and lighting. The algorithm measures all facility functions, allowing you to improve your building’s overall efficiency.

Lowering your energy consumption substantially reduces your energy bill. In fact, most smart building systems deliver a 100% ROI in as little as 5 to 10 years!

Reduced Operating Costs

Building overhead is a significant expense for every company. While it’s necessary, many businesses fail to manage it properly. Using smart building systems to monitor waste helps you identify patterns and underused spaces, reducing your operating costs.

Multi-Site Management

If you manage facilities for several locations, smart building systems give you complete control from a single platform. With remote monitoring, you can adjust systems in any of your buildings from anywhere in the world. This flexibility enables facility managers to maintain consistent, safe, and efficient building operations.

How To Find the Right Provider for Smart Building Systems

To find the management software that best fits your facility’s needs, reach out to a full-service mechanical contractor. There’s a few you can choose from in Atlanta, and partnering with the right one is crucial to your future success.

So how can you tell what separates the good from the rest? Before committing to anything, make sure your potential provider has the following:

Case Studies

Any mechanical contractor claiming past success should provide the resources to back it up. Ask for specific case studies that show:

First-month energy savings
Overall energy reductions one year after implementation
The timeframe to complete the retrofit
Specific system capabilities
The Ability to integrate with your current systems

Make sure the contractor addresses these areas with measurable data, as that’s a strong indicator they’re qualified for the job.

Testimonials

Another vital step in evaluating potential providers is seeing how past clients feel about their service. Firsthand reviews give you an inside look at a company’s capabilities. Look for client testimonials to get a good understanding of the:

Quality of their technology
Difficulty navigating user interfaces
Ease of system integrations
Estimated return on investment
Trustworthiness of their business

Paying attention to how previous customers feel helps you establish baseline expectations. You’ll want to partner with a provider that has applicable experience and a reputation for high-quality service.

Experience

The best indicator of future success is past success. When meeting with mechanical contractors, ask what recent smart software installations they’ve done in facilities similar to yours. The best providers draw from their past projects to approach yours effectively.

Atlanta’s Trusted Choice for Smart Building Systems

Frazier Service Company has been Atlanta’s preferred mechanical contractor for nearly 50 years. As a full-scope provider, we handle all of your facility needs.

We stay up to date on the latest industry developments to offer the best smart building systems on the market. Contact our expert team to discover the difference that comes with a trusted provider.