Construction

Including wired and wireless network infrastructure in all new building projects to create energy-efficient, intelligent buildings meets the goals of the Economic Stimulus Program of 2009.

Traditionally, building automation systems (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, physical security access, lighting, etc.) are connected to their own proprietary networks.  With the intelligent building approach, building automation systems are connected to the same network infrastructure used for voice, video, and data. Having a common   framework enables centralized monitoring and control and automated adjustment of building controls based on policy. If no one is in a particular area of the building during certain hours, for example, buildings can be left at higher or lower temperatures than when people are present.

Using stimulus funds for intelligent buildings—in hospitals, government offices, and data centers — creates both immediate and long-term jobs.   Additionally, smart buildings reduce the public sector’s environmental impact through

• Reduced consumption of materials and equipment
• Improved energy efficiency
• Increased space utilization
• Reduced electronic and office waste

Technology Impacts

By realizing the technologies that will provide immediate return on investments and impact sustainable competitive advantages, Ascolta can help you identify courses that map to your technology projects.

Impact:  Eliminate redundant network infrastructure:  In intelligent buildings, different agencies and departments sharing space can securely share network infrastructure and services. The immediate benefit to eliminating redundant network infrastructure is reduced power and cooling costs. Longer-term benefits include enhanced interagency collaboration and reduced workload for IT, enabling these groups to devote more time to programs for economic development.

Enabler:  Routing and Switching, Unified Communications, Wireless

Impact:  Reduce energy costs by 50 percent by enabling facilities managers to monitor energy consumption in real time and automatically control heating and lighting: Although network infrastructure is responsible for only 2 percent of a building’s energy costs, IT can help intelligently manage the other 98 percent, for an estimated US$100,000 annual energy costs per building (source: Cisco customer calculations).

Enabler:  Routing and Switching, Unified Communications, Wireless