smart buildings

‘Buildings have to be programmable,? says Cisco?s smart building lead

‘Cisco has added elements of smart buildings to everything it’s doing,’ the exec says

According to Bob Cicero, Cisco?s smart building lead for the Americas, technology and connectivity have become the fourth utility, after water, gas and electricity. As a result, Cisco has been focused on created a strong smart building portfolio to support its opinion that buildings ? residential and commercial ? must become smarter and more dynamic to keep up with tenant expectations and to support a greener future.

?We believe buildings should be programmable,? he said. ?If you think about the built environment today, it?s a very rigid infrastructure. But we believe that buildings should adapt to users, versus them adapting to the building. This shift of mindset to where we?re thinking about a building as a programmable entity, that?s really enabled by all the technology that?s becoming connected.?

Cicero explained that the first ?foray? into smart buildings was figuring out how to get everything connected into a single infrastructure so that everything was communicating. Now, he continued, the industry is at the point where it?s thinking about the collective elements of the entire building, including the people occupying them, as well as ancillary goals around sustainability and efficiency.

?Our focus over the past few years has been making buildings much more efficient by gathering data about occupants,? he said, adding that Cisco has also been prioritizing created a heightened level of control over things like lighting and window shade to reduce energy waste.

Basically, Cicero explained, Cisco has “added elements of smart buildings to everything [it’s] doing,” including using surveillance cameras to count and track building occupants and using Webex room kits to sense things like the temperature, humidity and noise levels of a room.

Cicero claimed that with this level of connectivity, Cisco can tell a user how much energy is being used and where, ?down to a tenth of watt for every 90 watts of energy.?

?Sensing capabilities are fundamentally becoming part of the fabric of the building. We?re using and grabbing that data and [?] we establish a common data and we?re exporting that data up into the cloud [?] to be able to run models on it from an AI and ML standpoint,? he said. ?It?s an aggregation of all that data from sources you may not have thought as traditional sources as gaining intelligent from.?

Honeywell Building Technologies’s Q3 revenues up 5% y-o-y

Honeywell Building Technologies, which is a business division of Honeywell, recorded revenues of $1.37 billion in the third quarter of the year, up 5% compared to revenues of $1.30 billion in the year-ago period, Honeywell reported in its earnings release.

The unit recorded profits of $322 million for the period, up 14% year-on-year.

In a statement, Honeywell said that the segment margin expanded 190 basis points to 23.5% driven by commercial excellence and productivity, partially offset by inflation.

?Building technology sales were up 3% organically driven by broad-based demand across the building products portfolio, as well as continued growth in Building Solutions services. Orders were up double-digits year-over-year for the fourth straight quarter, driven by demand for fire products, building management systems, and projects,? Greg Lewis, Honeywell CFO, said during a conference call with investors.

?Backlog for Building Solutions services was up over 35% year-over-year, positioning the business for growth into 2022. In addition, our healthy buildings portfolio maintained strong customer momentum with approximately a $100 million of orders in the quarter, bringing year-to-date orders to $250 million,? the executive said.

?In HBT, we expect non-residential construction growth and an ongoing return to public spaces to drive demand for building products, services, and projects. We also expect continued demand for our portfolio of healthy Building Solutions, as well as tailwinds from U.S. infrastructure clients,? Lewis added.

Earlier this year, Honeywell announced the commercial launch of Honeywell Sine, a mobile solution to support organizations in their plans to return workers to buildings.

From managing varying occupancy levels to pre-screening visitors before arrival, Honeywell says the new solution can help facility managers and operators create a ?simplified site experience? that offers frictionless access by checking credentials with a mobile device through integrations with access control systems.

Last year, Honeywell acquired Adelaide, Australia-based Sine, a specialist in mobile workplace management technology. Sine provides a solution which tracks the flow of people throughout a building. Organizations such as Tennis Australia are using Sine to deliver better insights to improve confidence and comfort onsite to get fans, staff, and vendors back to competitive tennis.

Sine?s workplace management solution complements Honeywell Forge, Honeywell?s enterprise performance management software, to help deliver an optimized experience to employees, visitors and contractors in various environments, including hybrid-work models.

Johnson Controls launches OpenBlue Net Zero Buildings as a Service offering

Smart buildings specialist Johnson Controls announced the launch of its OpenBlue Net Zero Buildings as a Service offering.

In a release, Johnson Controls said that this new offering will provide a one-stop shop for companies looking to achieve net zero carbon and renewable energy goals.

“The need for making net zero leadership easier to achieve is immediate and greater than ever. Buildings represent about 40% of global emissions and Johnson Controls is uniquely positioned to help customers around the world pursue their net zero carbon goals,” said George Oliver, chairman and CEO of Johnson Controls. “Our proprietary research echoes the demand, prioritization and urgency for support that businesses, governments and global leaders are calling for. Our As a Service model looks to provide our customers with guaranteed outcomes and risk management models to achieve emission reduction commitments that ultimately lead to healthier buildings, people, places and the planet.”

In May 2021, Johnson Controls commissioned a survey of 1,046 North American professionals responsible for building operations, facilities management and energy & sustainability management across various industry verticals and building types. More than 90% of respondents have significant goals to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption by 2030+ with more than 60% of respondents targeting a 50% or greater reduction, the firm said.

The OpenBlue Net Zero Buildings as a Service portfolio includes a full spectrum of offerings tailored to schools, campuses, data centers, healthcare facilities as well as commercial and industry players.

Johnson Controls has also created a new offering called OpenBlue Net Zero Advisor, with the aim of delivering real-time, AI-driven tracking and reporting of sustainability metrics, helping facilities managers ensure and prove the net zero carbon reduction and renewable energy impact of their buildings. Based on criteria such as LEED certification, the new technology automatically gathers and analyzes data about energy, water, materials and greenhouse gas emissions involved in every phase of a building’s lifecycle and proves CO2 reductions, renewable energy and efficiency gains, Johnson Controls said.

Johnson Controls suite of connected sustainability solutions and services is offered through flexible risk sharing models that enable tailored deal structures where end users pay for expected outcomes rather than assets, the firm added.

“The need and demand for a 360-degree net zero carbon solution is clear. Businesses, governments and global coalitions have all set ambitious sustainably goals over the next two decades, with many aspiring for decarbonization by 2030,” said Katie McGinty, vice president & chief sustainability, government and regulatory affairs officer at Johnson Controls. “We offer a unique service and partnership model that allows customers to focus on their industry core competencies and revenue-generating activities while we drive customized steps for planning, execution and reporting that flex to the specific needs of each sustainability journey.”

Three ways to prevent smart buildings from being hacked (Reader Forum)

Smart buildings ? those that deliver outstanding outcomes for all users, through digital technology, to exceed their evolving expectations ? have the power to transform the way we live, work and communicate. With the right technology at their fingertips, landlords can equip their offices for the modern workforce that has grown accustomed to a highly tech-enabled lifestyle. Our research shows that 80% of employees want to work in a technologically advanced office, so a tech-enabled environment isn?t just a nice-to-have for the working world. It?s essential.

When implemented properly, smart technologies enable landlords and building managers to make buildings smarter by using more advanced systems such as access control, fire alarm, and compliance management. However, security does not end with fire safety and traditional barriers to the outside world. Cybercriminals have become a real threat, invading everything from nanny cameras to refrigerators. Virtually any Internet of Things (IoT) device could serve as a conduit to breach an entire network. This is such a concern that, reportedly, President Biden?s?Peloton will not be allowed to enter the White House for fear of a security breach.

Using technology as a new incentive to bring the workforce back to the office requires proper thought to implement state-of-the-art technology without compromising digital or personal safety. Here are three considerations for landlords to ensure that their smart buildings remain secure.

1. Keep security in mind from day one?

Smart and connected are often used interchangeably, but there is an important differentiator. While any aspect of a building could be ?connected? ? lights, plumbing, heating and cooling, access control, to name a few ? they are not necessarily ?smart.? The smarter the building, the larger the attack surface. A truly smart environment is seamlessly integrated and is purpose-built with security in mind from day one, minimizing the risk of potential threats.

2. Establish the correct protocols and standards

Cybersecurity cannot be obtained without first establishing the necessary policies, practices, and testing processes that ensure the building?s systems and data are secure. Those policies must then be adhered to in order to ensure that security is maintained. This encompasses not just the approach to securing the networks but also ensuring the building users are aware of cyber best practices and regularly follow standard procedures.

To create environments that are safe, secure and free of cyber threats that could compromise users? privacy or security, landlords must establish protocols in their buildings to empower tenants to have safer environments for their users and their data. These can range from something as simple as ensuring that the computers used for monitoring building management systems aren?t used for sending emails or as complex as segmenting networks based on vendor usage. In doing so, landlords can minimize the risks and the potential consequences of a system failure, whether in error or through deliberate action from a malicious hacker outside of the system.

3. Focus on protecting data

Smart buildings contain a treasure trove of data that can be used to learn more about how the space is being used, how much energy is required, and how it can be customized to better suit employee needs. Given that every smart asset produces vast amounts of data, organizations need to securely collect, analyze and make smart use of it without compromising security. This means having robust data governance frameworks and physical protection of the data networks.

The office of the future is smarter and more secure

Smart technologies have transformed the way we live, work, and communicate. But without strong security, they can be at risk of becoming a hacker?s playground. By focusing on cybersecurity and data protection from day one and establishing exemplary standards and protocols, landlords can deliver smart buildings that provide users with outstanding experiences without sacrificing security.

Telenor’s new subsidiary will offer IoT software, hardware for building management

Telenor hopes Bldng.ai will help it become a dominate player in Norway’s smart building market

Norway-based telecoms group Telenor announced the creation of a new smart building subsidiary Bldng.ai as part of its plan to become the largest provider in Norway?s smart building market.

The subsidiary, to be led by the company?s current Head of Smart Buildings Steffan Phillip Thorvaldsen, will provide a platform for customers through which property owners and tenants will gain better control of their IoT network and will offer both software and physical infrastructure solutions, as well as any related services.

Helping customers deploy and manage IoT devices and connections inside their facilities represents a huge opportunity for telecoms service providers. In fact, according to RG Reports Globe the global smart building market is expected to be a $79 billion opportunity by 2025.

Almost as if setting the stage for this most recent smart building development, Telenor last week, announced that it has reorganized its regional and international IoT portfolios under a single brand moniker, Telenor IoT, in order to synchronize product development, improve technical support and ?accelerate the customer facing business.?

?The new operating model reinforces our competitive edge for the 5G era and makes our product portfolio easier to buy for any customer searching for world class IoT operation and platform capabilities. We are also getting scale benefits on new technology investments,? Mats Lundquist, chief executive at Telenor Connexion and manager of Telenor IoT, commented.

DoE’s Smart Energy Analytics initiative helps buildings save energy

A total of 104 U.S. companies, schools, governments, and institutions have used the Department of Energy’s Smart Energy Analytics Campaign, a four-year initiative funded through the Building Technologies Office and facilitated by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) to expand the use of energy management and information systems (EMIS) in commercial buildings.

The Smart Energy Analytics Campaign helped drive approximately 4 trillion BTUs of annual energy savings reducing the campaign participants’ collective energy bills by $95 million a year. The research also enabled Berkeley Lab to create what it claims to be the world’s biggest collection of data on building energy analytics. This dataset represents the first real-world, large-scale body of evidence of EMIS’ value to commercial buildings.

“Buildings account for nearly 40% of the energy used in the United States, with a total bill well over $400 billion per year,” said Jessica Granderson, Berkeley Lab’s research deputy of the Building Technology & Urban Systems Division and leader of Berkeley Lab’s efforts in the campaign. “Energy management and information systems are smart building analytics technologies that reveal hidden energy waste and provide predictive, optimized control. They are critical to achieving major reductions in energy use and to providing healthy, grid-interactive efficient building and energy performance transparency.”

Nationwide, if buildings throughout the commercial sector adopted EMIS best practices, the resulting savings in annual energy costs could total $4 billion, Berkeley Lab said. Campaign participants?including Sprint, Kaiser Permanente, and Stanford University?implemented or expanded existing EMIS programs during the campaign and saved millions of dollars, the entity added.

The campaign, a public-private partnership with businesses and public-sector organizations, has supported analytics technology use in over 6,500 buildings totaling 567 million square feet of floor space. It allowed Berkeley Lab experts to offer technical assistance and provide industry partners with frequent opportunities for peer-to-peer interaction, including exchanging best practices.

Researchers found that average installation and software costs ranged from two to eight cents per square foot, depending on the type of EMIS system. The median participant saved approximately $3 million in annual energy costs across their portfolio.

“It’s impractical for businesses to manually review the amount of data being collected in today’s commercial buildings ? analytics are needed to get value from all that data. The savings from analytics tend to increase over time as additional opportunities are uncovered,” said Hannah Kramer, a researcher with the team.

One participant, health care system Kaiser Permanente, expanded its use of fault detection and diagnostic software (FDD), a type of EMIS that uncovers errors in buildings systems such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and points to solutions. In 2019, Kaiser Permanente was recognized for its use of EMIS at 69 buildings, demonstrating an average energy savings of 12%. It has since expanded the program to 113 buildings.

Although the Smart Energy Analytics Campaign is concluding, its work will continue through DOE’s Better Buildings program, with ongoing support from the team of experts at Berkeley Lab.

ABB launches virtual innovation shows for smart buildings

ABB announced the launch of its first series of virtual innovation shows for smart buildings, since experts are predicting that 30% of the global workforce will work from home at least once a week by 2021.

The innovation shows will bring together a panel of ABB experts to explore “key drivers in the smart building market”, from the recent growth in co-working and living, to the increased importance of building safety and the accelerated adoption of digital technologies, the company said.

The series of virtual events will address key trends that will shape the next generation of smart living and working solutions with a focus on increasing quality of life and well-being in intelligent buildings, from intuitive room control devices to HVAC and emergency lighting, ABB said.

?Innovation is part of our DNA and, in the current climate, we are constantly looking for new ways to create a safe, smart and sustainable world with connected solutions,” said ABB?s Smart Building?s division President Oliver Iltisberger. “Our ABB Innovation Shows will see a collection of specialists from around the globe discuss how installers and developers can use the latest IoT based technology to create intelligent, welcoming and energy efficient buildings and homes of the future.?

ABB said that participants will be led through a “virtual building space” in which specific applications are highlighted and technology explained. Customers will also have the opportunity to join webinars and have a live chat with ABB experts for an interactive discussion on technical product information.

Solutions will include the latest products from ABB, including its professional range of ABB i-bus KNX switch actuators, its Cylon controls, which provide a ?solution covering all HVAC applications and Naveo Pro emergency lighting system, which ABB said it can save up to a third on operating costs.

?ABB has always had a strong presence at key industry events and listening to our customers and the wider industry really helps to shape our future thinking and solutions. Taking our team on the road in a virtual environment will allow us to maintain interaction with our customers and showcase our innovative solutions in an interactive and intuitive way. It?s designed to broaden understanding of the art of the possible, so that we all work together to build smarter spaces for the future,” Iltisberger added.

5 access control innovations that prioritize health and safety (Reader Forum)

Now, because of COVID-19, health and safety are critical for buildings and facilities. Since the pandemic, the insecurities of outdated access control technology and systems have increasingly become a concern. In order to increase safety and mitigate the current health crisis, touchless access control technology is taking the lead not only in security but in physical health as well.?

The rise of smart buildings

Smartphones have revolutionized how we use our phones. Now, smart solutions are changing our interaction with buildings. Electronic devices can now communicate regardless of the distance between them. This is because common building appliances like thermostats, gates, doors, and lights can be connected to the internet.?

The concept of smart buildings has been around for awhile. Unsurprisingly, it is attracting a lot more attention in our current environment. Their utility serves a much greater purpose which is slated to become the new normal.?

Access control is getting smarter

Traditional access control uses standalone electronic devices to manage building occupants. In these legacy systems, there is seldom any interaction between the devices. Electronic visitor logbooks, automatic door unlock, card readers and other access control systems function independently of each other. But that isn?t the case with recent innovations in access control.

In smart access control, all the devices necessary for access control interact and exchange data to form a more efficient network. All the information shared in this network is stored in the cloud.?

Smart access control uses biometric and/or mobile credentials, video intercom and door release to manage the occupants and visitors of a building. These otherwise independent technologies are now connected via the cloud. This allows them to seamlessly provide hands-free entry and authorized guest access.?

By creating an environment without the need for physical contact, smart access control prioritizes health and safety. In the following section, we will discuss how these innovations combine to create a touchless environment.??

5 innovations in smart access control

Automatic door openers

At the foundation of a smarter solution to access control systems is automated door release. This technology can be seamlessly integrated with various access control solutions. This no-contact solution eliminates the need to touch high-use surface areas like building doors which harbor disease.??

Face recognition

In traditional systems, standard access credentials include passwords, key cards, key fobs, etc. Face recognition is a biometric access control function that uses facial features to grant or deny? access to a door or building. Face recognition integrates with an automatic door release to enable touchless entry into a building. This provides the most secure identity solution.?

Cloud-based systems?

Cloud-based systems have been revolutionary for remote management. Network systems operate on-site only, which limits capabilities when it comes to any building function. COVID-19 has underscored the need for resilient systems that can withstand the changing world. As it stands with access control, the cloud fuses security, flexibility, and health by enacting a remote system that safeguards the most advanced authorization credentials.??

Mobile access?

Mobile devices like smartphones have effortlessly integrated into our everyday lives. So, mobile innovation in access control is particularly significant. Mobile access control enables the remote management of the entire access process. This includes the authorization of visitors as well. Any authorized person can access the comprehensive dashboard information in real-time to manage building operations.?

Visitor management

Video intercom visitor management systems go beyond authorized users to take security to the next level. Buildings will always welcome visitors, whether it be a client or a delivery. As such, it is the facility manager?s job to ensure the safety of his or her occupants in doing so. Video intercom is an undisputed way to confirm identification and confidently grant access from anywhere.??

The spirit of technology lies within generating connections. Since COVID-19, everyone has had to find new avenues in which to connect the pieces of their lives. Luckily, in looking down the new road to access control technology, we have found a way to maximize security as well as physical health.?

PropTech in the time of COVID-19

I was supposed to go to Cannes, France in March, and then maybe in June, for the annual MIPIM event. Instead, I ended up engaging with the event virtually, trading the South of France for my one-bedroom apartment in Madison, WI. I realize that, given everything going on, this doesn?t really register on the list of things to be upset about, but, as we all continue to use our homes as offices and classrooms, it seemed like a relevant thing to complain about in a conversation about PropTech and real estate in the time of COVID-19.

At a recent virtual MIPIM event ? this one meant to take place in New York City ? real estate leaders participated in a webinar to discuss how technology will impact the future of the industry, and inevitably, questions about the lasting impact of the pandemic, which has changed the way we interact with physical spaces, came up.

Like many others deeply familiar with the technology sector, Michael Phillips, principal and president of real estate investment and management company Jamestown, pointed out that COVID-19 accelerated a number of technologies that were already ?in the works,? such as frictionless building access and the increase in the ?monitoring of bodies.?

?Technology is an incredible tool,? he said during the webinar, but when it comes to what the future holds for PropTech, he added, ?I think the jury is still out. We?ll know more in 12 months.?

He did go on to say that there are some trends that can be extrapolated, such as more localized working and shopping trends as people seek to avoid transportation.

As Phillips mentioned, contactless building access, such as keycards, smartphone access or smart locks, is one of the most obvious ways in which Proptech can offer a valuable solution in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Again, this trend was already emerging before the pandemic, but interest is only accelerating as people are now wearier of door handles.

At last year?s MIPIM PropTech NYC event, I spoke (face-to-face!) with the Co-Founder and President of Openpath James Segil about his company?s keyless access control product that grants access to a building via the user?s smartphone. He said that people want reduced friction and that ?they want a safer environment.?

When he referenced safety back then, he meant security. But, now, employees and tenants want to feel safe from infection, so while a keyless product had merit a year ago, it has even more today.

Other possible trends in real estate include the implementation of non-contact infrared thermometers, like we?re seeing in parts of Asia, which are placed in building entry ways and are used to measure the body temperatures of those entering. This technology is particularly useful in large, public spaces like airports, but its popularity could grow in the coming months as people begin to trickle back to offices and other locations.

In fact, in May, the Wall Street Journal reported that RXR Realty, which owns Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan, will be installing thermal cameras to monitor employees as they return to work in the 32-story office building.

Even the materials used to construct surfaces might change. According to a scientific study, a hybrid of metallic materials like zinc and silver can help reduce the transmission of bacteria when used on high-touch surfaces.

While Winston Fisher, a partner at Fisher Brothers, agreed during the webinar that ?post-COVID change is coming,? he also called the belief that everybody will continue to work from home when it?s all ? or mostly ? over ?honestly silly.?

?That?s just not the way we interact,? he said, maintaining that the office real estate market will continue to be critical moving forward.

For him, the future is about ?data, data, data,? regardless of the impact of the pandemic. ?What?s the data gathering of real estate? That?s the future. What does it mean to have a smart building can manage energy consumption?? he provided. ?We really need to be thinking about [?] how AI robotics and automation will have dramatic impacts on real estate.?

Transitioning in-building cellular from off-air to a signal source

Coverage first, everything else second, for in-building cellular investment

With businesses and consumers being bombarded by advertisements touting the advanced features enabled by 5G, and building owners trying to make sense of the diverse technologies that fit under the “smart building umbrella,” it’s important to remember that many commercial spaces can’t deliver on the baseline cellular use case–coverage.

Speaking to RCR Wireless News at a recent industry event, Nextivity’s Bruce York, director of carrier sales and development, stressed that the immediate, addressable opportunity is in commercial spaces ranging from 50,000-square-feet to 500,000-square-feet. Nextivity’s latest and greatest in the space is the Cel-Fi QUATRA 4000, which can be deployed off-air or connected to an RF signal source.

York walked us through his sales process and highlighted some of the primary considerations enterprise investors make when examining in-building solutions.

“There’s a lot of evangelization as to what options are available,” he said. “There’s just not one Band-Aid to solve all problems. Most customers don’t know whether they have a coverage problem or a capacity problem. To the end user, it all looks the same. The vast majority of our enterprise customers are using cellular for voice and text and they still have Wi-FI as backhaul for their data. Coverage is absolutely their first concern.”

So, to solve for coverage is the best bet to set up an off-air solution, capture signal from the macro network and distribute it around a building, or is it to work through carriers and their partners to secure an RF signal source like a small cell?

?The challenge there is usually the backhaul costs for most end customers,” York said. “You start running into a lot of logistical problems. We tell almost all our system integrators and end customers, you?re better served to go off-air first. You need to fix your coverage problem today. The second step is to address the capacity constraints. Once our Cel-Fi QUATRA system is installed…all you have to do is change the plumbing a little bit. That phased approach is quite valuable for both the market and the MNO.?

“Once you’ve solved your coverage problem,” he said, “you now have the door open for other innovations–you use it as an enabler.”

York likened the current addressable market opportunity to deep-sea exploration and some of the futuristic, buzzy technologies to space exploration.

?I look at?4G, 5G, all those evolutionary jumps that the carriers do to get the incremental improvements in capacity and performance, it?s like what NASA does to go to Mars and explore further-looking things. But where the more addressable revenue and opportunity is is in the in-building space. I equate that to like all of the resources and money opportunity we have in the deep ocean. It?s here, it?s right out of our reach, we just have to focus and address it.?The global carrier market is primed for?doing?just?that.?