A great deal has been spoken about COVID-19 and its consequences on our lives. How we live, work and play from now on has inevitably forced the Facilities Management (FM) industry to rethink how they can cope with the newest new normal whilst ensuring the highest levels of efficiency.
The broader question is how FM teams can make their operations more efficient, compliant, and cost-effective in the current situation. The answer lies with the Internet of Things – better known as IoT – that have the power to realise economies of scale desired in FM. In the context of FM, IoT is any system of devices and software that helps make a building and its various features smarter and more efficient.
The exponential growth of IoT is already introducing a cohort of smart buildings that range from homes and office blocks to factories and parking lots. Research by International Data Corporation – better known as IDC – revealed that IoT spending in the world is projected to reach double-digit growth rates in 2021 and achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3% over the 2020-2024 forecast period, as organisations gradually invest towards digitising various facets of their properties.
Matthew Smith, Associate Head of the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS) at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, discusses how the FM industry can leverage IoT and see this as an opportunity to step up and meet their core objectives during these pressing times.
Improving Indoor Air Quality
One of the key responsibilities for a facility manager is improving the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), in addition to maintaining the right levels of humidity and temperature. The current crisis shows how FMs and HVAC engineers are crucial in ensuring proper ventilation, i.e. clean supply of air and removal of contaminated air, that in turn is a key factor in mitigating the risk of transmission.
Nothing impacts us more than the air we breathe inside a room or a building. For instance, to demonstrate the importance of improved IAQ, The Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health led a notable study in 2015 that showed an 101 percent increase in cognitive performance amongst those who work in well-ventilated offices with below-average levels of indoor pollutants and carbon dioxide. Poor indoor air quality is a compromise to both our health and performance as proven by many notable studies.
The world of IoT has already made tremendous progress with solutions that help manage air quality, in tandem with managing temperature and humidity of the building. IoT-powered technologies, such as HVAC Load Reduction technology and Demand Controlled Ventilation (DCV), enable facility managers to monitor and control air quality, whilst keeping tabs on the levels of various air impurities which can differ based on an ever-changing list of factors.
For instance, a sudden spike in the number of people in a building due to an event or a large gathering can rapidly impact the level of CO2 and other contaminants in the air. IoT-enabled HVAC systems alert FM teams on issues such as the sudden rise in contaminants in real-time and react accordingly by releasing air cleansing solutions in certain cases. Moreover, in the long-term, real-time insights empower FM professionals with proactive management of buildings and help them make more informed decisions with respect to energy consumption, cost efficiencies and improved indoor air quality.