Data Analytics & Smart Building Science Articles | Buildings IOT Blog

Since legalization, cannabis growers have sought out better ways to farm to meet demand without compromising quality. While outdoor cultivation offers a lower-cost approach for growing, crops grown outdoors are much more vulnerable to weather, pests, and other uncontrollable environmental issues. Indoor cultivation nixes these problems, allowing cultivators to control every aspect of plant growth. Yet, many wonder if indoor growing is sustainable in the long term due to the enormous amount of energy it requires.

Since 2020, there has been unprecedented interest in making buildings healthier and safer. At a time when the future of commercial buildings is uncertain, the ongoing conversations about what constitutes a healthy building and how to create it are particularly important. Many companies are developing hybrid work models where employees alternate between working remotely and onsite. This reimagining of the workplace is revolutionizing the way we use office space.

The link between indoor air quality and productivity in the workplace is becoming increasingly clear. While researchers have long understood how fine particulate matter (2.5 microns in diameter or less) and other pollutants are able to infiltrate buildings, research has typically not dealt with their effects on the human brain until recently. Now, that is changing, and new knowledge is shaping the way buildings behave.

The cannabis industry was worth $61 billion in 2020, and analysts predict it will reach $100 billion annually by 2030. Successful players in the cannabis industry need to be future-focused to capitalize on this rapidly growing market. That means embracing smart technology and cannabis grow facility analytics to improve your product, streamline maintenance, and maximize profits.

An integration platform-as-a-service (iPaaS) uses a set of automated tools to integrate software deployed across diverse environments. While iPaaS benefits many industries, it has particular value for commercial real estate.

Smart buildings require data to operate at their most efficient. The more data gathered, the more efficient buildings will become. Greater efficiency within built environments leads to higher rents (from 3-7% greater) and higher sales prices (16% more on average) when these assets are sold. In smart buildings, Internet of Things (IoT) technology like smart sensors and controllers help gather, integrate, and evaluate data with the help of advanced analytics software. However, this collected data, which falls under the “big data” umbrella, requires standardization to turn it into productive data. 

Internet of Things (IoT) technology offers building owners and operators a means to make their facilities more energy efficient. IoT technology is relatively new, only coming into widespread use within the last two decades. This network of interconnected devices, controllers, and systems is transforming built environments worldwide, and is the basis for building automation. The relationship between IoT and energy efficiency makes it a key element to creating intelligent built environments.

College campuses are highly structured, controlled environments that can serve as innovation hubs to create energy-efficient, sustainable, and carbon-neutral premises. By conducting energy audits and identifying the activities contributing significantly to higher electricity costs, campuses can come up with solutions to achieve energy efficiency goals. With a growing focus on the clean energy future, colleges and universities can implement a few innovative ways to make energy usage on campus more efficient.  

The cannabis market is thriving. Driven by both legalization and growing demand, the value of the industry is expected to reach $56 billion globally by 2026. But as the market expands, it becomes more competitive. Capitalizing on the opportunities within this industry requires smart decisions and wise investments that improve efficiency and maximize yield. That starts with cannabis facility design that utilizes automation and integration between facility systems.

Chilled water-based cooling systems account for significant energy consumption and maintenance costs in large commercial premises. As an individual component of the HVAC system, even a super-efficient chiller plant cannot meet ambitious energy targets on its own. A robust chiller plant optimization system driven by a smart building platform is the key to achieving peak efficiency and performance.