Smart buildings use advanced technology to control and manage the systems and services they use efficiently and sustainably. Smart buildings have been gaining prominence in recent years. Population growth, new social habits, increasing amounts of time spent at home and environmental concerns are driving the popularity of these types of buildings, which are characterized by their ability to integrate and optimize the use of different technologies and systems, such as lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, security and energy and water management.
However, beyond these factors, the growth of smart buildings responds to a commitment to the environment. Beatriz Bolonio, Smart Buildings & Industry at Idrica, points out that smart buildings "respond to the need to be more efficient, sustainable and resilient, improving our quality of life based on data."
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Network solutions will play a significant role in developing sustainable, future-proof buildings and cities. Currently, smart building technology sits at the confluence of two growing trends: the continual migration of populations into city centres, and the crisis of climate change motivating sustainable infrastructure choices. The climate crisis represents a threat to the future health of our planet. According to a 2021 report by the Climate Action Tracker group, the world is headed for 2.4°C warming by the end of the century, a trend which will continue to fuel more intense storms, heat waves, and droughts — driving instability at the foundations of human societies around the globe. Now is a critical time for sustainable practices to be implemented throughout our economic systems to reduce the impact of human activities on the planet.
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