April 2022 Newsletter
Is your business saving money with building automation?
What is Building Automation? Building automation is an interconnected, centralized system of occupancy controls, scheduling devices and sensors that connect the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC), lighting, security, alarms and other systems to communicate on a single platform that controls and monitors the environment of the building. The main purposes of building automation systems are reducing energy consumption, reducing maintenance costs, improving occupants’ comfort and productivity, and extending the life cycle of the utilities.
Building automation systems offer many benefits that your company should take advantage of.
#1. Improved Energy Management. The number one benefit of building automation is energy management. Building automation gives you a way to control the heating and cooling and manage the energy inside your building. HVAC and your lights tend to be your biggest energy offenders, using the most energy, and therefore cost you the most. However, with building automation, you can control all the different zones of your building and adjust as needed. The system makes it simple to cut energy bills by scheduling lights to turn off when no one is in the room, and controlling the temperature of each area rather than cooling the entire building. You can also include areas outside your building, such as: exits, ramps, walkways, parking lots and garages, loading docks etc. A properly used BAS pays for itself over time by lowering the maintenance costs and utility bills. There are many studies that show by allowing BAS to monitor and adjust the HVAC system according to the occupancy, there can be cost savings from 10-30 percent.
#2. Less Environmental Impact. Simply by reducing the amount of energy you use, you decrease any negative impact you could potentially have on the environment. Not only does building automation help you save on electricity, you can also have your system connected to the plumbing, and reduce your water usage. Less waste and better efficiency equates to a reduction of your environmental impact.
#3. Control Your Property from Anywhere. With the rise of wireless technology, you now have 24/7 remote access to all of the systems in your building. You can control your systems from any device that can connect to the internet. This is a wonderful benefit if you have an employee who needs to come in during off hours. You can simply sign in and adjust your system settings to allow that employee (or employees) to do their job safely and comfortably.
#4. Better Security. The building automation system can be connected to security systems, which makes it easy to monitor everything that happens within the building and surrounding area. For example, you can easily schedule the doors to lock at a specific time every day, and provide employees or essential personnel a key card or code to gain access. The system will also send alerts and notifications if anything happens that needs immediate attention.
#5. Less Stress. Finally, building automation can provide you with peace of mind, which means much less stress. Just knowing that you can see what is happening from anywhere, and will receive alerts should something go wrong, is enough to lower your tension levels. And if maintenance is needed, you will find out about it early enough before it becomes a huge issue, which saves you money.
With all of its benefits, it’s easy to see why building automation is the way of the future. And, it can be customized to meet your specific needs, allowing you to run your business and your property as efficiently as possible.
Gray Connective is a commercial and industrial electrical contractor serving the greater Lehigh Valley and western New Jersey for over three decades. We offer companies the ability to work with confidence and peace of mind through our electrical solutions and competitive prices.
For more information on building automation systems and what it can do for your business, contact Gray Connective today.
