Intelligent building
From Free net encyclopedia
Most intelligent buildings sense or manage several variables, or manage more than one building system, extracting greater performance than several disconnected building systems could achieve. Some form of network, or integrated information system seems to be required for a building to be called "intelligent." Simple thermostats are not considered intelligent, and neither are quite complex HVAC, and cogeneration systems.
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Current work in intelligent buildings
Most work on intelligent buildings concentrates on a particular subsystem. Building component manufacturers describe many improvements as "intelligent." Currently, intelligent materials, structural systems, and boilers are all advertised.
Office buildings
Engineers, architects and interior designers often use the phrase "intelligent building" to mean an office building with telecommunications that allow rapid reconfiguration of the interior layout for a client.
Controlling mechanical and electrical systems
When engineers say a building is intelligent, they often mean that computer programs coordinate many building subsystems to regulate the interior temperatures HVAC and providing power. The goal is usually to reduce the operating cost of the building while maintaining the desired environment for the occupants. Commercial-off-the-shelf Building Automation Systems (BAS) are available. A basic BAS saves energy by widening temperature ranges and reducing lighting in unoccupied spaces. A BAS also reduces costs for electricity by shedding loads when electricity is higher-priced. Often, a building can be designed so that air-conditioning and refrigeration can be deferred.
Because many subsystems contribute to the costs of operating a building, customized building automation can be complex. Some intelligent buildings:
- Manage thermal transmissions through windows or walls
- Anticipate forecasted weather, utility costs, or electrical demand.
- Learn and adapt to building occupants.
- Track individual occupants to adapt building systems to the individual's wants and needs (e.g. setting a room's temperature and lighting levels automatically when a homeowner enters)
- Detect and report faults in the mechanical and electrical systems, especially critical systems.
There are other, non-energy uses for automation in a building:
- Security
- Rent or consumables charges based on actual usage
- Giving directions within the building
- Customized lighting to meet different needs, or set moods.
- Scheduling preventive maintenance
See also
- BACnet -- One computer networking protocol used to implement networks within intelligent buildings
- Building automation
- KNX -- Another protocol
- LonWorks -- Another protocol
de:Intelligentes Haus ja:インテリジェントビル pl:Inteligentny budynek zh:智能建筑