Efficient, Secure, and Smart: The Impact of Building Automation on Modern Infrastructure

Building automation is becoming an increasingly common practice in commercial, industrial and institutional buildings of all sizes. Automating your building can help reduce energy costs, simplify processes and improve comfort levels.

What is Building Automation?

Building management systems, or building automation systems, integrate several components into one cohesive system. These can include HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, geothermal systems, lighting systems, electrical systems, security systems, and more.

At Kimco, we believe that integrating these systems offers more control of your building. A network of smart technologies incorporated into the system allows us to collect, analyze and exchange data to improve the efficiency, accuracy and response time in everything we do.

By collecting this data, we are able to monitor and better manage your building’s systems and make smarter decisions concerning energy usage and system instabilities.

If you have a commercial, industrial, or institutional building, you may have already considered installing a building automation system (BAS). You may also be wondering about the potential benefits of installing a BAS and whether the value you’ll receive is worth the upfront cost.

Building automation systems offer enhanced control of a building’s various systems, including heating and cooling (HVAC), electrical, security, and so on. These control systems vary in complexity depending on the building's nature and objective and are customized for each situation.

Here are a few reasons why you should consider using a building automation system:

Lower energy costs

With the help of a building automation system, HVAC and electrical systems are run more efficiently, reducing energy consumption and utility bills.

A BAS not only helps to automate a building’s systems with sensors and timers, but many collect data regarding the building’s energy usage, which can be studied for opportunities for potential improvements.

This reduction in energy usage not only reduces costs but also reduces the building’s environmental footprint, which is beneficial for everyone.

Improved comfort

A BAS automatically adjusts a building’s temperature and lighting, maintaining an ideal level of comfort within the facility.

By increasing comfort levels, a building automation system also reduces occupant complaints and can even help with productivity, which brings us to our next point.

Increase productivity

If you’re considering a building automation system for your business, one of the benefits you’ll likely reap is increased productivity.

Not only are employees more productive when they’re comfortable, but because a BAS allows your systems to run more efficiently, they are less likely to break down and require repairs which can be disruptive to a business’s day-to-day operations.

Reduce maintenance costs

As mentioned above, a facility’s systems run more efficiently when controlled by a building automation system which prevents breakdowns and other issues, especially within HVAC systems.

When controlled by a BAS, a building’s systems tend to experience less wear and tear and therefore last longer and require fewer repairs. However, it’s important to still have your systems serviced regularly, regardless of whether or not you use a BAS.

Increased security

Building automation systems can be connected to security systems in order to increase safety and peace of mind.

These systems can be used to live monitor what is happening within a facility, provide alerts of suspicious activity, or have the doors lock and unlock at specified times.

Data collection

A building automation system allows you to monitor and control your building’s systems from anywhere, anytime.

At Kimco Controls, we also monitor your building’s system data so that we can quickly respond to any concerns before they become more serious. Rather than allowing small issues to go unnoticed and worsen over time, building automation systems allows us to react to problems immediately, either via computer controls or by dispatching a technician.

Kimco Leads the Way in Building Automation With Sensor Fusion Technology

One of the reasons that now Owner and Head Manager, Electrical and Integration Management, Ken Watt, wanted to work with the HVAC control system company 21 years ago was for the technological advancements the company was integrating into their building automation and control work.

More than twenty years later, he's helping to lead the charge, keeping the building automation services company current and innovating. "I love being a leader in this technology," says Ken. I'm constantly playing with new devices and sensors."

One of those sensors is the O3 IoT Sensor Hub from Delta Controls. This sensor can combine temperature, humidity, motion, sound, and light sensing in a single, ceiling-mounted device. The sensor fusion technology essentially replaces the need for separate controls. You won't need buttons, thermostats, or switches all over your walls, leaving you with a clean, streamlined look and functionality.

It really is a game changer, Ken explains. Once the sensor is mounted to your building's ceiling, it's essentially a case of set it and forget it. Kimco began testing the new technology - that can also connect to smart boards - while it was in its beta phase two years ago and will be implementing it in a new school building this year.

Some additional benefits of this technology are that its ceiling-mounted feature means there's no tampering with the device. Also, if the sensor were to fail for some reason, you'd only replace one instead of multiple sensors.

It's low maintenance, people don't have to be in there touching it. Once it's set up, it's there. It's done. Ken Watt

If you’re interested in learning more about how a building automation system could benefit your commercial, institutional, industrial or large residential building in Kelowna, Kamloops, Penticton, the Kootenays or elsewhere in the Thompson Okanagan, contact Kimco - we’d be happy to help streamline your building's spaces through building automation with sensor fusion technology!