is for Internet
is for Innovation
I
How the Internet of Things has
driven innovation in commercial
lighting sustainability
The need for improved efficiency,
productivity and environmental
sustainability are concepts that are firmly
entrenched in the maintenance and
operation of institution and corporate
real estate portfolios. Occupiers
continually require new and improved
solutions to old problems. Therefore
the greatest value that commercial
real estate service providers can
deliver to their clients is innovation.
In a world where almost everything can
be connected to the internet, and as
wireless systems continue to improve
exponentially, the concept of the Internet
of Things (IOT) offers clear opportunities
for innovation. Briefly, IOT can be thought
of as everyday devices being connected
to the internet. This can range from cars,
furniture, wearables and in the case of
this article light switches and motion/
daylight control sensors.
Although IOT was in its infancy just
a couple of years ago, it has shown
significant improvements and offers
end-users multiple benefits beyond
ease of implementation and its ability
to represent itself digitally, opening
up the world of Big Data and creating
opportunities significantly greater than
the device itself. This article looks at
the challenges and benefits when IOT is
deployed within a university campus and
how IOT is pushing the boundaries of
sustainability and innovation.
THE OPPORTUNITY
In 2012, one of Australia’s leading
universities, the University of Melbourne
(UoM) tendered for an LED lighting
and lighting control system upgrade
to be installed across two buildings
(approximately 40,000 sq m) at the
Parkville Campus. Similar to many
institutions, UoM is driven to reduce its
energy usage and maintenance costs
and therefore the solutions had to
deliver economic performance as well as
environmental improvements.
While the minimum required performance
standards were for traditional hardwired
units comprising of motion and daylight
sensors and timer switches, DTZ offered
a wireless digital solution that was
ultimately selected as the winning tender.
The solution offered a new generation
control system utilising wireless devices
with the same proven functionality of a
traditional system, but with the added
benefit of remote monitoring and control
over the internet.
THE BENEFITS
From a technical viewpoint, replacing
the existing wall switches with new IOT
variants that can communicate with
new motion and daylight sensors allows
end-users to set customised schedules
aligned to business operation hours or,
in the case of UoM, semester programs.
IOT goes beyond meeting basic control
requirements by also being able to
capture and trend energy data from
each light switch, lux levels from daylight
sensors and the occupancy status of
motion sensors to pin-point sources of
inefficiency or indeed highlight optimum
efficiency.
Importantly, these benefits are available
at a comparable cost to traditional
technologies. In financial terms, as the
implementation of wireless technologies
avoid the cost of cabling and install
works, IOT currently sits on-par with
traditional approaches, but offers
significant potential for further cost
savings down-the-line through data
analytics and subsequent operational
optimisation. Furthermore, while these
technologies continue to grow, the cost of
the devices and applications will continue
to fall making this innovation an inevitable
technological evolution to how buildings
are upgraded and managed.
20 DTZ | In Situ
