On the long path to creating a smart city, the journey begins with its core: the buildings. Intelligent buildings are the foundation upon which smart cities are built, serving as the individual units that, when interconnected, transform the urban landscape into a hub of efficiency, sustainability, and seamless functionality.
Data is the lifeblood pulsing through intelligent buildings and, by extension, smart cities. Equipped with sensors, intelligent buildings continuously gather information about energy use, occupancy patterns, and environmental conditions. This data is analyzed and utilized to enhance building operations, reduce waste, and optimize resources. More importantly, this data feeds into broader city systems, empowering decision-makers with real-time insights to make informed, city-wide adjustments that benefit everyone.
Some intelligent buildings are designed to connect seamlessly with city-wide infrastructures, sharing data with traffic management systems, public transportation networks, and utility grids. Smart cities are comprised of buildings that “talk” to each other and the urban ecosystem, adjusting energy loads during peak traffic hours, synchronizing with renewable energy sources, or responding to changing weather conditions in real-time. This interconnectedness creates a harmonious urban environment where resources are maximized, and life becomes more convenient for residents.
Another increasingly important focus for smart buildings is sustainability. Today’s intelligent buildings have eco-friendly practices. These buildings reduce their environmental footprint by leveraging automated lighting, innovative HVAC systems that adjust to real-time occupancy, and incorporating renewable energy sources. Smart cities of the future will be more efficient and significantly more sustainable, contributing to the fight against climate change.
Some of these sustainability technologies are already being implemented. The U.S. Department of Energy coined the term ‘grid-interactive efficient buildings’ to describe properties that combine energy efficiency measures and load flexibility. These buildings can shift their power use to match when the utility grid can deliver it most cost-effectively. Studies sponsored by the DOE reveal that this approach could decrease the cost of the clean energy transition by up to $200 billion annually by 2030. It could also slash the cost of achieving nationwide carbon-free electricity by 2050 more than one-third.
When properties reduce energy use during peak demand, they save substantial money for themselves and utilities. This demand response practice is significant because a large portion of the cost of delivering electricity to consumers is determined by the need to pay for energy grid infrastructure to meet the rare moments when demand spikes.
Demand response is easier said than done, especially on hot summer days in an age of warming climate. Summer grid emergencies have become annual events for Con Edison, the utility serving New York City. Con Ed offers lucrative payments to buildings that successfully reduce demand during peak times. Con Edison is one of the most sophisticated utilities in the country; others are still far from offering the kind of data exchange programs necessary to facilitate demand response.
When cities do ask buildings to reduce their energy consumption, they often turn to inventive HVAC tech. Heating and cooling are the most energy-intensive activities of any building and can benefit the most from intelligent software.
Taconic Partners, the owner of a 24-story condominium property in New York City, used to participate in demand response using old-school methods. They would ask property managers to manually reset thermostats, fans, chillers, and other HVAC gear when the utility called for help. Using new HVAC optimization tech, Taconic Partners has more than doubled the number of kilowatts reduced without causing occupant comfort issues on hot summer days. With help from an HVAC tech firm, Taconic Partners analyzed and tested how much power could be reduced during peak times without causing significant disruptions to the building. It resulted in a deep understanding of how the building operated and the limit on how much power they could reduce without bringing it to uncomfortable levels.
Sustainability isn’t the only focus for intelligent buildings and their connections to city-wide smart infrastructure. Security camera surveillance is another area where residential and commercial properties are interconnected, and data and footage are sometimes shared with local police departments.
In some cases, cities are financing private surveillance for residents and companies. Washington, D.C., is a good example. Over the past four years, D.C. has funded more than 18,000 security cameras for residents, an investment of more than $2 million. The District’s private security camera incentive program offers $500 rebates and vouchers to residents who purchase a camera system, provided they register them with the police department.
An extensive array of security cameras now blink out from porched and back alleys in D.C., and their footage is available on forums like Nextdoor. Several cities nationwide are undertaking similar initiatives, including Spokane, Baltimore, Maryland, and Minneapolis.
Other cities take a less direct approach. San Francisco, Des Moines, Iowa, and Berkeley all keep private security camera registries. The registry programs usually only share the location and camera system information with the police and don’t give law enforcement direct access to the feeds.
Some cities go a step further. In Chicago, once an owner registers their camera, police and various city agencies can access it without permission. The Chicago police say they command an immense network of 45,000 cameras across the city, though they don’t disclose how many are privately owned.
Private companies are also investing heavily in surveillance cameras shared with the city. In Minneapolis, retail giant Target has invested nearly $300,000 in CCTV cameras throughout the city. While this ever-expanding array of security cameras has myriad benefits, the privacy concerns are well-noted among many.
Private security cameras are often just one piece of the ever-expanding surveillance infrastructure in cities. By partnering with businesses and residents, cities have built massive camera networks, enabling police departments to have huge portions of their cities under surveillance at all times. These surveillance programs have mixed reviews; some citizens are glad for the extra protection they provide, while others worry about the effects on personal privacy.
Intelligent buildings are integral to the development of smart cities, serving as the technological building blocks of a connected urban environment. These structures, powered by data, energy-efficient systems, and enhanced connectivity, provide a pathway toward greater efficiency, reduced environmental impact, and more responsive city services.
As we expand these networks, particularly in areas like security surveillance, cities, and commercial properties, must remain mindful of privacy concerns and ethical implications. The balance between technological advancement and personal rights will shape the future of smart cities, ensuring that innovation benefits all without compromising individual freedoms.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Nick Pipitone
Quelle/Source: propmodo, 06.10.2024
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