Building automation is the centralized control of a buildings heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, and other systems. It is controlled by a building management system (BMS) or a building automation system (BAS). The purpose of building automation is to improve occupant comfort, the efficiency of building systems, and to reduce energy consumption and operating costs.

Building automation manufacturers pride themselves on making the environments that are inhabited on a daily basis not only comfortable for occupants, but also are green friendly (both environmentally and economically). Companies everywhere are looking to cut costs without having to cut employees. New regulations in almost every industry have sent the people in charge to hunt for creative alternatives in order to go green and save some green. BAS systems help by impacting the way that businesses operate internally, and that can help them meet their mission statements.

How are BAS systems being used?

Schools are using them to make learning environments more comfortable and learning friendly. Classrooms are evolving with technology, and environments need to be as flexible as possible to meet the needs of the students and teachers.

Hospitals are looking at building automation to help “reduce energy consumption and increase patient safety and satisfaction.”  It can be used to tie together the temperature, the lights, the monitors, and the overall atmosphere for a patient.

Improving Everyday Life

The joining of IT with these buildings means more data will be gathered from across the venues from many different situations. This data will be gathered and turned into information that can be studied and used to make improvements where needed. Improvements that are as simple as reporting a leaking pipe, all the way to knowing that a surgery is taking place and monitoring the environment for that surgery.

Building automation will change the way that we live in our everyday environments once technology gets involved. Whether it is keeping the cooling costs down, or determining the best climate for work to be done, how our buildings feel and work impacts our daily lives.