Building Automation Basics Part 3: Industries, Applications, and Benefits

Stay ahead of the curve, no matter your business: the benefits of building automation stretch across industries and applications.

To cap off our three-part series on the fundamentals of building automation, we delve into the applications and benefits of this game-changing technology, along with which industries have the most to gain from implementing building automation systems. 

What we’ve learned so far

This journey started when we realised that search data from Google showed a surge in interest in building automation in our home province of British Columbia over the last 12 months, peaking in February. 

Being one of our specialties—along with HVAC and electrical in the Okanagan—we decided to break down the basics of the technology in this three-part explainer series: Building Automation Basics. 

If you missed part one and part two, here’s a quick recap:

Sensors
In part one we covered sensors. Sensors are fundamental to building automation systems—acting as the eyes and ears of your building automation systems. Sensors gather vital information from rooms and communicate it to your building’s commercial HVAC controls to make adjustments to lighting, temperature, and more. 

Building energy management systems
Part two breaks down building energy management systems, or BEMS. The BEMS is the nervous system of your building, so after the eyes and ears (sensors) have relayed vital information to the building’s controls, the BEMS gets to work to not only make adjustments but also collect information and use it to optimize energy usage. 

Types of building automation

The different functions of building automation systems are rolled into one using building automation integration, but what types of automation does that include? This list is not exhaustive, but here are some of the main building automation systems you’ll encounter and what they do. 

Lighting automation
We’ve all had the experience of waving our hands in the dark to activate a light sensor after not moving enough. Thankfully, lighting automation has come a long way since and is about much more than movement. 

Using lighting automation systems, your building will be able to automatically adjust the brightness of different rooms depending on the time of day and location in the building, occupants, or even simple presents for rooms with frequent presentations, for example. 

Daylight harvesting
No, this doesn’t mean gathering sunbeams to store for the winter. Daylight harvesting describes a feature of lighting automation which adjusts room lighting based on the natural light available. The result is not only a more agreeable atmosphere created by maximizing the use of natural light but also lower energy use by reducing electrical light. 

HVAC automation
The scope of a building’s HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system is huge. This system touches every part of your building and has the power to make or break the happiness, comfort, and productivity of your occupants. 

That’s because HVAC systems control room temperature, humidity, air quality, boilers, chillers—we can go on. 

Automated HVAC systems have the power to adjust vital features of your building based on changes happening in the background including the number of occupants in a room or time of year. 

These adjustments happen without any effort on your part and, ideally, are unnoticeable by the people inside. All they feel is the perfect atmospheric room temperature or amount of humidity. 

Security system automation
Automation is the standard when it comes to the security of your occupants and business. Security system automation looks like features including:

• Access control, so only the people who should be able to enter your building can. 
• CCTV using low-light capable, high-resolution cameras like the Vivotek technology from Delta Controls. 
• Built-in cybersecurity for increased protection in our digital age. 

Home building automation
We’ve given home building automation its own mention as a “type” of building automation because while Kimco specializes in commercial HVAC, automation, and electrical, home automation systems are another common application of this technology. 

Smart homes provide safer, more efficient residences for your family using the same or similar technologies we implement at a larger scale for our clients.  

Building automation benefits

So, building automation can keep my rooms cool when it’s hot and bright when it’s dark. What’s the big deal? The benefits of building automation systems are so much greater than these creature comforts. 

Energy savings
One of the biggest wins of building automation systems is the energy savings. Every automatic adjustment for light or temperature is another notch on the efficiency belt, reducing the overall energy use for your building. 

Newer, more efficient equipment
To really take advantage of the possibilities of building automation requires up-to-date equipment. Newer equipment also means higher efficiency, less wasted energy, and fewer repair calls to your HVAC contractor. 

Maintenance 
Smart buildings are constantly working to be as efficient as possible which means gathering information on its internal systems. That data isn’t a secret—your smart building is ready to report back to you with real-time feedback, allowing for any issues to be addressed as quickly as possible. 

That means you don’t have to wait for a complete breakdown of a piece of equipment—resulting in costly emergency replacements and energy waste—before getting a fix. 

Remote troubleshooting and smart metering make maintenance and energy use patterns or analysis simple and non-invasive. 

Increased productivity
Have you ever tried to prepare research for a court case in your office during a Kelowna heat wave? It’s not pleasant. 

When occupants are comfortable, they’re not only more comfortable but better able to focus and perform on the job. 

Aside from less time wasted on temperature and lighting adjustments or “thermostat wars,” the maintenance benefits of building automation systems help to prevent major equipment malfunctions when you need to avoid them most—like during a heatwave or -40 Celsius cold spell. 

Accessibility 
Automated ramps, doors, and washrooms are just some of the ways that building automation can help create environments that are open and inclusive to all—including those with disabilities. Aside from the independence these features provide, building automation can also provide safety features for all to benefit from, including automated fire doors or sensory assistance for alarms or navigation. 

Cost 
Building automation systems improve your bottom line in more ways than one and, according to Environment Journal, can save as much as 25 per cent in energy and operational costs. 

At the end of the day, every benefit covered above is a benefit for your wallet:

1. Lower energy use means lower operational costs and utility bills.

2. Better maintenance programs mean less emergency calls and less costly, unforeseen repairs.

3. Increased employee productivity makes for increased profits.

4. Companies that lead in accessibility tend to outperform their peers financially with as much as two times the economic profit.  

Industries

Every business can benefit from building automation. Here are some of the industries that Kimco Controls has helped with building automation systems in the Thompson-Okanagan.

Education
Keep students and teachers focused while positioning your school as a leader in innovation using smart building technology.  Kimco has worked with schools across British Columbia and maintains strong relationships with the Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. and other groups in the province. 

Check out our work with the new H.S. Grenda Middle School to see automation and education in action. 

Government and institutional 
The rigorous demands and high standards of operation and security for government buildings make them ideal for building automation solutions. In 2017, 13 Canadian Federal government buildings alone outfitted with smart building technology led to a 17 per cent energy savings.

See how Kimco retrofitted the Kamloops Nav Canada Air Traffic Control Tower with no disruption to services. 

Commercial
Commercial buildings require high-performing, up-to-date HVAC, automation and electrical systems to respond to business demands. Add to that staying on top of building codes and industry standards, implementing building automation systems and working with knowledgeable contractors is key to success. 

For Avery Family Farms in Okanagan Falls, Kimco Controls was able to install its largest high-efficiency heat pump project to date.  

Indoor growing solutions
Smart solutions are integral to a successful cannabis production facility. The temperature, humidity, and gas calibration controls help remove the guesswork from a complex science. 

See how Kimco Controls helped Valens Lab with its state-of-the-art cannabis testing facility.

Wineries and breweries
Here in wine country, staying at the top of your game is non-negotiable. Automation can help with gas calibration and detection, temperature, humidity, and any number of atmospheric factors needed for a successful winery or craft brewery. 

Learn more about how Kimco can help you get the perfect sip.  

EV charging solutions
With more and more electric vehicles on the road, having chargers available to tenants, employees, and other users of your commercial or residential property is essential. 

Learn more about how Kimco can help set your building apart with EV charging stations. 

Residential 
Smart homes are growing in popularity with lower energy use resulting in a more affordable, efficient and secure place to lay your head at night. 

Residential is home, but also staff housing. See how Kimco Controls donated its time to build the Maple Springs Staff Housing.

Work with a people-first company that has been on the cutting edge of building automation, HVAC and electrical technology in the Thompson-Okanagan for 40 years. See how Kimco can help.