As people slowly return to commercial workspaces after a prolonged lockdown, it is evident that significant changes are needed in the way we approach safety, sanitation, and energy consumption. Commercial co-working spaces and office buildings are once again full of people who stay in close quarters for several hours, all of whom expect a safe, hygienic work environment. Traditional HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) systems are often inefficient in this regard, both in terms of the amount of energy consumed and, in their responsiveness, to changes in occupancy or air quality. Commercial spaces are thus increasingly relying on IoT to maintain air quality, minimise the risk of disease spreading and use energy sustainably.
IoT in the workspace context
In simple words, the Internet of Things refers to the use of connected devices that employ real-time input to achieve outcomes more efficiently. Smart refrigerators, virtual assistants like Google Home and wearables like the Apple Watch are all examples of IoT. Recent advances in HVAC technology mean that indoor temperature, lighting, and air quality can be controlled remotely by IoT devices. These usually take the form of wireless sensors that can automatically adjust environmental conditions based on usage and time of day.
There are several ways in which IoT systems excel over traditional ones.
- IoT can monitor far more access points than traditional systems can, allowing for more efficient and timely control from a centralised dashboard.
- It can reduce wastage and optimise energy usage to cut consumption by up to 50%.
- It can process large data sets through machine learning to predict conditions and take proactive action to control indoor systems.
- Through regular monitoring and automated cleaning processes, IoT can maintain healthy indoor environments throughout the property and keep it safe for users.
Why workspace IoT is relevant today
With the Covid-19 threat still lingering, many people are uncertain about the risk posed if they come back to the office and share space with others. Traditional HVAC systems often do not have the capacity for Particle filtration of air needed to reduce the airborne load of infectious particles, which increases the risk for people working together indoors. There is also the aspect of maintaining a productive ambience. Even small fluctuations in temperature or lighting can have a big impact on mood and the ability to concentrate. Under less than favourable working conditions, employees could lose motivation and be less productive, which could have significant consequences on business output.
In addition, with climate change becoming an increasingly bigger threat, it is the responsibility of every organisation to use energy more efficiently. The latest report from the IPCC states that global surface temperature was 1.09C warmer in the decade between 2011-2020 than during the previous 100 years. If emissions continue at their current rates, all records will be broken this century.
While the report is more confident about the downside to climate change and global warming, the scientists are hopeful about halting and reversing the rise in temperature if we can cut global emissions in half by 2030 and achieve net-zero by mid-century.
Traditional HVAC systems often use more electricity than necessary because of poor mechanisms and tend to require more maintenance. This also translates into higher costs for the organisation, which could be unaffordable after the hit to business from the pandemic. There is thus a clear need for an efficient, centralised, automated system that uses only as much energy as needed, at any point in time.
How IoT can be used to cut down energy consumption and improve building usage
- Sensors placed on office floors can detect occupancy at different times of the day and adjust the lighting (or raise the windows to use natural lighting) accordingly.
- Room reservation systems can be used to prioritise those who need to meet, reallocate other team members to other rooms and send out work-from-home recommendations if occupancy hits a maximum limit.
- A centralised monitoring dashboard allows for sanitation to be scheduled in a phased manner so that other occupants are not disturbed.
- Air can be circulated and filtered at regular intervals, and particularly after a room has been used, to maintain fresh air and remove infectious particles.
- Machine learning can process historical energy usage data to identify inefficiencies, reducing energy usage costs and harmful emissions.
- Each individual IoT sensor can send out alerts for when maintenance is required, ensuring timely system upgrades and cost-efficiency.
With IoT all set to dominate industries around the world over the next decade, the outlook for smart office technology is a favourable one. While there remain certain challenges about how to make its implementation cost-effective, the savings in terms of energy usage and employee productivity make it a worthwhile investment. This way, organisations can do their bit for the environment and ensure that their employees are safe and happy at work.