GANDHARV MARWAH

GCAD/14/112
th
19 October 2019

SMART BUILDINGS

Smart, as a word, refers to having a quick-witted intelligence. It shows about how quick your
reflexes and responses are. Also, we consider the general information someone carries about
various topics. This is how we personify the word smart.

But, how does a building become or be referred to as smart? Is it the spaces inside it or the facade
of it? Is it the behaviour of all the spaces in different weather conditions or response to it’s context
and user.

Smart, in terms of a building would mean such a thing as the response to it’s surrounding, the
consumption of the energy in a built space acting responsive to it’s climate. Since, we have
entered into 21st century, we have been growing in terms of technology, which has not only been
limited to communication or softwares but also, the buildings and the urban furniture is being
developed such that they have been technologically advanced. Hence, there are different factors
which refer to the a building being smart. These are : Sustainability, energy consumption,
technology, materials used in a building, the context relation to the surroundings. Also, the
distance from the main public transport facility etc.

There are two things in segregation : Smart infrastructure and smart buildings.
Smart infrastructure refers to the metro stations, energy conservation in a whole industrial space,
smart cities which refer to technology and sustainability, which become user friendly and thus
leave us with wide opportunities to build a better world which also looks after the calling of
climate and depleting natural resources, also the security in a space.

The automation & control systems in buildings provide various benefits such as lower operating
cost, conserve energy resources and lower CO2 emissions. Further, the systems facilitate in
continuous energy monitoring and energy optimization of a building. India is one of the major
building automation & control system markets, exhibiting double digit growth. The building
automation & control systems market is largely driven by electronic security & safety segment
due to increasing demand for CCTV and biometric based security systems in the buildings.

Automation and Kinetic facades are the two latest factor to effect the functioning of the
buildings in such a manner to change the user experiences. The buildings designed with the core
concepts of people-orientation, optimization, and security, that are also combined with energy-
saving and smart building concepts of HVAC, connectivity and long-term maintenance.

Buildings are complex entities with multiple interconnected systems such as control and
maintenance systems, heating, lighting and cooling systems, and security systems. These systems
need to communicate and coordinate with one another for the buildings to work efficiently. In
most of the traditional buildings, these systems exist in silos, leading to lot of energy wastage. It
is possible to convert these buildings into smart and energy efficient buildings by infusing
sensors, actuators and CCTVs that sense and respond intelligently to the needs of the building
occupants.

According to the latest survey, buildings have been successful in making the areas save upto 30
percent of water usage, 40 percent of energy usage and thereby help reduce building maintenance
costs by 10 to 30 percent. Hence, the cost reduction will lead to better management in the
authorities and for the clients.
The role played by buildings in the everyday lives of people is getting redefined. They are no
longer mere physical structures but are slowly starting to define the quality of life of the citizens
and the entire city. Given the anticipated rise in urbanisation in the coming decades, cities are
expected to transform to a place where many different people and companies collectively work
to make our lives better and more sustainable. The shift to smart buildings has only just begun,
and will now accelerate very quickly if we make the citizens aware of the benefits of smart
buildings and also make it a cost effective option for them.

Smartness is free, but to buy or use, is costly. Hence, the growth in the areas should be seen as an
economic development as well. Hence, the government needs to support it, if we talk about the
cases in India. Also, to develop one building in such a manner would lead to various entities that
will form the infrastructure, later on going to the city level development being called as the smart
cities.