Brian Haines, Chief Strategy Officer, FM:Systems.
The image of smog blanketing a traffic-choked urban highway has cemented the perception that cars are the primary source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the driving force behind climate change. In reality, gas-powered cars and vans account for only about 10% of global CO2 emissions, according to the International Energy Agency. On the other hand, according to Architecture 2023, the built environment is responsible for 42% of CO2 emissions—more than four times as much.
This is actually good news in terms of our ability to address climate change, as reducing emissions from buildings is both easier and more impactful than tackling emissions from automobiles.
A 2023 study published in Nature Communications shows that electric autonomous vehicles (AVs) generate 21% fewer emissions on average than nonautonomous electric vehicles (EVs). When accounting for their entire life cycle, however, electric AVs actually generate 8% more emissions due to factors like high manufacturing emissions and the massive energy needed to power these vehicles’ sophisticated onboard computers.
Autonomous building technology, by contrast, can deliver big emissions reductions without these “rebound effects.”
Reining in climate change will require the combined impact of many different initiatives, from carbon capture to electric AVs. Yet when humanity succeeds in overcoming this existential threat, it will be due in large part to the widespread adoption of autonomous building technology. Here’s why:
Reducing Energy Waste
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 30% of energy used in commercial buildings is wasted. Current smart building technologies such as environmental and occupancy sensors already help organizations by automatically shutting off lights and air conditioning in unoccupied rooms.
Autonomous building solutions will extend these capabilities by optimizing sources of energy consumption using historical data and other inputs without the need for human involvement. By referencing weather forecasts, for instance, an autonomous building can automatically activate window shading during periods of peak sunlight, reducing the need for air conditioning to counteract the temperature increase.
Autonomous building technology can empower facilities to make better choices about not only how energy is consumed but also where that energy comes from. Energy usage data and monitoring can allow organizations to optimize electricity sources for cost and emissions, opting for renewable sources—when available—over coal and natural gas.
Addressing Emissions In Office Refits
When most people think of a building’s carbon footprint, they focus on emissions generated during construction and the ongoing use of lighting, HVAC equipment and other components. However, a significant yet often overlooked source of emissions is interior refits.
A major driver behind renovations is when organizations realize their existing space no longer meets their needs. The sensors, software and integrations that underpin autonomous building solutions give a clear view of past, current and anticipated usage patterns. When a refit becomes unavoidable, this information can inform adaptable design and optimize layouts and furniture choices before construction begins. This preoptimization of space can also lengthen the time between renovations—reducing future disruption, costs and emissions.
Maximizing Operational Efficiency And Equipment Performance
Renovations aren’t always planned. Sometimes, they’re the result of a plumbing or equipment failure. Today’s smart building solutions like connected vibration, noise and moisture meters can already detect suboptimal performance in building equipment, potentially preventing costly remediation.
In the future, autonomous buildings will not only alert facility managers to the need for intervention but also automatically pinpoint the root cause of the problem, issue work orders to the appropriate technician and order necessary parts for repairs.
Automating facility management tasks in this way can minimize the impacts that system failures typically cause—whether in cost, disruption to occupants or unnecessary emissions. Early detection and intervention can also reduce the need for component replacement and decrease emissions associated with procuring a new piece of equipment and disposing of the old one. Finally, increased operational efficiency can also cut down on unnecessary trips, shipping and wasted materials.
Obstacles To Adoption
One aspect of smart and autonomous building technology that is helping encourage adoption is that many of the components are relatively inexpensive and are easy to acquire and install in existing buildings. In addition, an organization can load the software that forms the brain of these systems onto the computers it already has. Unlike electric AVs, there’s no need to replace old buildings to benefit from autonomous building technology.
However, that doesn’t mean autonomous building technology is plug-and-play. Organizations looking to embrace these systems must lay some groundwork.
First and foremost, stakeholders need to understand that the lifeblood of an autonomous building is reliable, accurate and timely data. Before these systems can be optimized, organizations must establish a robust data strategy and mature data management framework. Ideally, this framework will extend beyond the real estate and facilities management teams and encompass other departments within the company including HR, IT and accounting.
Organizations should also be prepared to implement a comprehensive internal communications and training program that anticipates potential employee concerns. For example, facility managers (FMs) may be worried these systems are intended to replace them. This technology is being deployed in large part to help FMs maintain service levels in the face of a prolonged worker shortage and increasing work order volumes. Ensuring staff members understand this can help overcome resistance, bolster morale and productivity, and encourage adoption.
Conclusion
Once widely adopted, autonomous building technology should greatly reduce the built environment’s contribution to climate change.
The proliferation of environmental reporting and building performance standards around the world has already accelerated the adoption of smart building solutions. These regulations will become even more stringent as humanity continues to grapple with climate change. Organizations searching for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and comply with these laws should drive the transition from smart to autonomous buildings.
Paired with groundbreaking innovations like generative artificial intelligence and machine learning, and supported by integrated workplace management systems, smart and autonomous building technology will be the brakes that finally help slow runaway climate change.
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