In this age, data is worth more than gold. It is what fuels the digital age. Digital data has revolutionised the world with its detailed accuracy and efficiency. The advent of this new age can be traced to the discovery of electricity. Its use in buildings, since 1882 when Thomas Edison formed the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of New York. Since then, it has morphed dynamically into almost every aspect of our lives.
Today, the majority of movable objects in sophisticated buildings like Build to Rent developments, are already automated. All these automated areas present an opportunity for data collection. In turn, this provides developers with valuable information detailing how their building works. We are so familiar with these areas that we often overlook them. Failing to utilise the opportunity & to optimise our BtR development.
Here, we will highlight the 3 technology & data points that BtR developments likely have in place – but aren’t utilising to maximum efficiency.
Occupancy Analytics and Space Usage
Data detailing the number of people in a room, as well as space usage within a development, is crucial. This can be used to boost operational efficiency. In the sense that, understanding how and when certain areas in a BtR development are being utilised, can help management schedule levels at which facilities in those areas operate.
Although gathering such intel might seem like a new data point to be integrated, most BtR developments already have these points in use. They’re just underutilised. How so? If a BtR development requires a key fob to gain access, it can serve as a point to collect information on occupancy and space usage.
Data on how often and what time certain doors are active, presents an opportunity for operators to optimise facilities in those spaces. A good understanding of how tenants use BtR facilities opens up several possibilities of enhancing the development’s efficiency.
Annual Energy Usage
On average, commercial buildings waste 30% of their annual energy consumption. A significant amount! Ultimately, curbing this waste will radically boost the energy efficiency of any BtR development. Importantly, this demonstrates the vast amount of energy that can be wasted when there is no review of the energy data points!
Generally, energy data points are something that every BtR development has in place by default. Accessing, collecting, and analysing this data is usually the tricky part. As, data points that contribute to energy, are scattered across the development.
By automating things like doors, heaters, air-conditioning, lighting, etc. we expand the areas in which data can be collected. This data is valuable for calculating the energy usage through the year. Also, it highlights areas prone to energy usage. Thereby, providing an opportunity for optimizing usage in those areas.
Machine Efficiency
The efficient running of machinery is crucial to the smooth running of the systems within a BtR development. This is why maintenance cost is a necessary part of operational expenditure. However, maintenance of machinery and breakdown of plants, constitutes as one of the biggest drains on a BtR operating cost.
If BtR maintenance can be reviewed and monitored, defective and faulty systems can be predicted ahead of time. This is known as preventive building maintenance. And, it can only be achieved by collecting data from the machines and facilities in the development. These data points are readily available but can only be accessed by incorporating a BMS. BMS is a system connected to all the utility systems (lighting, security, temperature, etc.) within the development through sensors that gather data that the BMS uses to monitor & regulate these utility systems.
With a BMS in place, the process of building maintenance will be preventive in nature. The BMS helps with the early detection of faults in building utility systems through the live data capture. Thereby reducing the building’s maintenance and replacement costs of utility systems. As machinery like elevators will be serviced when needed more accurately than when it eventually breaks down.
Conclusion
Anything that can be automated can become a data point, and it can be used to learn more about your building and improve its efficiency. The data points mentioned above are readily available ways to collect data in most BtR developments. These data points are just waiting to be tapped to provide maximum efficiency.
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