DEBATE
2021 IS GOING TO BE A GOOD YEAR FOR CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY
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echnology is changing the way we construct residential and commercial buildings and think about urban spaces, with architects and specifiers now able to consider a much wider selection of products that can improve building efficiency and performance. To find out more about this space and to see how the pandemic has impacted innovation, we spoke to a group of leaders to get their views.
TO START OFF THE DEBATE, HOW WOULD YOU ACTUALLY DEFINE SMART BUILDINGS? Dan Grimshaw – CEO, Beam Development: "For me at the most basic level, smart buildings are about having the ability to manage your heating system for example, but with more control per floor, or per room. Systems like the Nest Thermostat allow you to program your thermostat’s schedule which can be controlled via your mobile and that can integrate with other smart devices in your property. "Next up are Building Management Systems (BMS) – computer-based control systems installed to control and monitor a building’s mechanical and electrical equipment. These can be programmed to be ‘smart’, depending on the factors you want to adapt to – whether it's the external temperature, the weather, or how many people are in the house, or the usage. "At the other end of the spectrum, smart buildings are being constructed off-site with renewable energy already in them to automatically control heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, and security. Systems work by managing the electricity you generate with the electricity you take from the grid; that energy then goes into the ‘brain’ of the house which manages your devices. It could mean your washing machine comes on
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BuildingProducts.co.uk • May/June 2021