First, we had individual controls systems within a building made up of simple, low-voltage electricity and pneumatic control systems for larger building management installations. Then the energy crisis occurred, beginning in the 1970s, challenging building managers to strive to invest in redefining their facilities into “smart buildings.”
As we entered the 1980s, and with advancements in technology, we began to hear the phrase “intelligent buildings,” coined by United Technology Building Systems Corp. These facilities simply had more powerful energy-efficient HVAC designs, electrical power and lighting controls, and water conservation features, along with connections to a building automation system (BAS).