Smart Building Technologies

NPI Connect’s smart building technologies help companies reduce expenses, become more eco-friendly, and manage their premises efficiently. If you would like to know more about smart building technology, please contact one of our associates.

What Are Smart Building Technologies?

A smart building is a structure that uses automated controls for systems and utilities such as heating and cooling, ventilation, lighting, security, and more. Also known as intelligent building technologies, smart buildings rely on microchips, actuators, and sensors that work together to collect data and subsequently make changes as necessary based on preset values. This allows the building and its services to function properly and cost-effectively.

Smart building technologies help infrastructure owners, operators, and managers improve a facility’s functionality and reliability. This can reduce energy use and optimize space.

You do not need to build a new structure to take advantage of smart building technology. These automated systems can be integrated into preexisting properties, including those that are significantly older. Smart building systems can connect to core systems such as power meters, water pumps, fire alarms, security alarms, and other systems. In addition, smart technology elevators, shading, and access systems can be added.

Smart Building Technologies by NPI Connect

At a fundamental level, smart building technologies help occupants to enjoy better lighting, thermal comfort, clean air, and improved sanitation. Healthcare facilities, hospitals, schools, public offices, stadiums, shopping outlets, and corporate buildings can also benefit from NPI Connect’s smart building technologies.

Enhanced Building Safety: One of the greatest benefits of smart buildings is the ability to control systems during a fire. When a fire alarm is triggered, the smart system can immediately respond before the fire department arrives. Smoke exhaust dampers will open, fans will turn on, and the intercom system will warn occupants and issue instructions on what to do. Locked doors will open up, and emergency lighting will activate.

Mobile Security: A web-based smart system lets security personnel view live video feeds from a smartphone or portable device. This enables them to adapt and respond quickly to any breach.

Environmentally Friendly: Monitoring the building’s energy use can help reduce total consumption, supporting a greener building.

Further benefits of smart building systems include:

• Productivity gain of the facility staff
• Improved building strategy
• Better security
• Sustainability
• Reduced energy costs
• Enhanced decision-making
• Improved comfort
• Increase in the net worth of the building

Some of NPI Connects’ building automation systems include:

• Management of heating and air conditioning
• Control of interior and exterior lighting
• Access to the security and overall control systems
• Fire safety and smoke evacuation systems
• Power monitoring
• Sound monitoring
• Building condition monitoring
• Remote management of the building

Benefits of Using Smart Building Technologies

There are many reasons to consider smart building technologies for your building. From automated lighting to security cameras, adding smart technology can bring your building up to the latest standards in technology and convenience. Whether you are planning a new building or updating an existing one, one of our associates can discuss your needs and options.

1. Save Money
   Using smart building technology can save money by using efficient utilities that, when run by automated systems, save energy and money. These systems are set up to adjust and adapt to run efficiently and effectively. The less energy and manpower your building needs to run day-to-day operations, the more money you will save.
2. Make Life Easier for Staff
   When staff don’t have to monitor building utilities, lights, etc., they can focus on other areas of building operations and their day-to-day tasks. Buildings take a lot of work to keep running smoothly, and modern technology can do it more efficiently. In many cases, buildings equipped with smart building technologies from NPI Connect also require less on-site staff each day.
3. Efficient Building Monitoring
   Monitoring all a building’s systems and utilities is a big job, and it’s easy to miss things. With technology working for you, you can detect potential issues early. Smart buildings are set up to make monitoring an entire building easier and provide you with accurate data.
4. Added Safety
   Security systems are an important part of any building in order to keep everyone safe. Smart building technology doesn’t overlook this important aspect of buildings and offers the latest security cameras and monitoring systems to help keep your building, staff, and patrons safe. From cameras to motion sensors and the latest security technology, your building can be safer for everyone inside and on the grounds.
5. Eco-Friendly
   Using as little energy as possible can help a building have less of a negative impact on the environment and use fewer resources than traditional building standards and utility systems. By being more efficient, a smart building puts less strain on the environment and offers a more sustainable approach to modern buildings.

You have many options when it comes to building and adding smart technologies to your building. Whether this is a new concept to you or you have already researched smart buildings, we recommend discussing your options and technology needs with a trained associate to better understand what’s available and how it can be implemented in your building project.

5 Features Smart Buildings Have

Smart Building Technologies are quickly becoming the norm in the workplace, and for good reasons. Smart Buildings aim to give their users more control over their safety, comfort, and productivity. Here are five features that Smart Buildings have:

1. Measurement Sensors 

Smart Buildings use various sensors and detectors to send signals to their central management system. This visualization allows a Smart Building to analyze crucial data and improve system performance in real time. Some aspects that these sensors monitor include:

• Supplies
• Temperature
• Energy consumption
• Overall capacity

Using this technology, business owners and workers can quickly analyze data and make adjustments to further save time and money.

2. Improving Overall Comfort 

Every building should have a properly functioning HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. This HVAC system makes it easy for a business to improve its comfort levels by managing crucial aspects like:

• A building’s air purification
• Overall temperature
• Humidity levels

Keeping on top of a building’s HVAC requirements can be difficult, especially when a business is already busy managing other crucial aspects. A small issue like a dirty air filter can quickly cause energy bills to skyrocket while also putting the health and safety of your workers at risk. By optimizing your HVAC system with smart building technology, you can quickly see improved employee performance. More comfort equals better productivity. You can also better maintain your HVAC systems, which can prevent high repair or replacement costs down the road.

3. Predictive Maintenance 

When managing a business, it can be easy to miss issues like security failures or HVAC systems that need repair. Sometimes, minor issues can be nearly invisible before they escalate into bigger problems that must be addressed. Smart building technology can include advanced control systems that quickly notify you of an issue. Once notified, you can act immediately to resolve the problem. Smart building technology can notify you immediately of an issue, no matter how small or large.

4. Machine Learning and Self-Management Capabilities 

Smart buildings use machine learning, AI, and self-management programs to make life easier for you and your employees. These capabilities have many uses. For example, when a fire alarm is triggered, your smart building technology can cross-reference how many times a false fire alarm has been triggered. Through real-time reporting, you can gain crucial data to help prevent maintenance issues and safety vulnerabilities.

5. Remote Access and Interconnection 

All smart building technologies utilize interconnection and remote access. Besides connecting internal networks, smart building technology is also connected to the internet, and you can easily control all aspects of a building’s internal system no matter where you are. With internet access, you can also access data remotely as well. These processes allow you in-depth management and control. Beyond convenience, remote access and interconnection can also support security. Discover suspicious behavior in real-time and notify the authorities even if you’re halfway across the world when you contact NPI Connect.

Smart Building Technologies Infographic

Occupancy Sensor FAQ

If you’ve looked into incorporating smart building technologies in your workspace, chances are you’ve heard lots about occupancy sensors. But how do occupancy sensors improve safety, comfort, efficiency, and even the performance of your employees? Read on to learn more about occupancy sensors and see how the professionals at NPI Connect can help.

How Do Occupancy Sensors Improve the Workplace?

Whether you’re looking at temperature sensors or motion sensors, incorporating occupancy sensors into your workplace can bring several benefits to your company and your employees. If you need to control temperature to protect sensitive electronic equipment such as servers, or if you want to know which areas of the office get the most traffic, occupancy sensors can provide real-time information about your workplace. They can also provide a sense of security and safety to your worksite.

What Type of Sensors Do I Need?

The type of sensor depends on your workplace, your employees’ concerns, and your own concerns as a property or business manager. As mentioned before, you may want to keep servers cool and employees warm, but sensors provide much more information than that. You’ll know which meeting rooms are available and how to adjust your office space to reduce distractions and discomfort. You can choose from a variety, but the most popular are temperature, occupancy, and air quality sensors.

How Do Occupancy Sensors Boost Security?

Every employee wants to feel safe and secure. Automatic lighting and occupancy sensors can help. They’ll turn on lights when they detect motion, and they’ll keep your workspace well-lit when there are visitors – whether you’re expecting them or not. Additionally, digital building sensors can keep you informed about what offices are occupied, so you’re always kept up to speed about whether anyone is where they shouldn’t be.

Why Do I Need Air Quality Sensors in the Workplace?

In the post-COVID world, we need to do all we can to ensure safety. Air quality sensors can tell you when employees may be at risk, but they can also show when employee performance can be boosted. Poor airflow can hurt employee performance, so environmental monitoring can help prevent discomfort, improve efficiency, and (most importantly) support a happy, healthy work environment.

Can Occupancy Sensors Save Money?

Yes. When digital occupancy sensors control what lights are on (and when), you’ll save big on lighting, heating, and cooling costs. Digital building occupancy sensors help you get the best performance from your workplace, and they also help you do your part to protect the environment by switching off lights when you aren’t using them.

Get in Touch with NPI Connect Today

At NPI Connect, we know that you need every possible edge against your competition, and this means using all the tools at your disposal to ensure you have an efficient workplace. Get in touch with us today to learn more about how digital building sensors can improve your office, and see what else smart building technologies can do for you.

NPI Connect implements smart technology into companies of all sizes and types. If you own or manage a building and want to know how NPI Connect can help, call us today to discuss our smart building technologies.