Over the years, I have written articles, delivered talks, and participated in industry events promoting the concept of the “intelligent building.” So, when I was recently asked by a colleague to define the concept of an intelligent building, I was ready to roll out a standard answer, such as, “Use of technology and process to create a sustainable building that is more productive for its occupants, and more operationally efficient for its owners.”
This would be followed by a description of open systems, networks, and integration of building systems. Instead, I paused and realized that while all of that is true, there is a large gap between the theoretical definition of an intelligent building and the practical project delivery that we work on every day. The theoretical smart building has building systems on a shared enterprise network and a vast variety of systems connected including HVAC and lighting, fire alarm, security, elevators, blinds, etc. The practical systems are driven by owners’ goals to reduce energy costs and to provide a practical platform for operations. Here are the key characteristics of what comprise these systems: