Energy Efficiency Beyond Smart Buildings

The new challenges facing architecture and construction are ever more closely related to responsible resource use.

While controlling your house on your cell seemed futuristic not so long ago, it has now
become much more commonplace. Today, the responsibility space creators take on is
even greater, since in most cases they are striving to be energy efficient.

Low-consumption lighting, double-pane windows, solar panels, plant use, rainwater
collection and making the most of natural light are all part of the energy efficiency
solution. However, the topic has gone at least a step ahead.

In other words, intelligent efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are being used, which actually means a revolution in the field. 

How does it work? Advanced sensors analyze data to automate refrigeration based on occupancy, weather and thermal loads.

Such dynamic adjusting adapts to occupancy patterns, reducing unnecessary refrigeration when spaces are empty.

Another example that is still in the trial phase is BREO (Building Resource Expression and Optimization), which connects building automation with human interaction. 

 “Buildings could be a lot smarter if we leverage the knowledge and experience of the people in it,” project head Paul Chávez proclaims.

According to an article published in ArchDaily, the system equips buildings with "expressive" data from electrical, thermal comfort, air quality, water, natural gas, lighting and audiovisual systems by means of sensory outputs.

The system makes use of human senses to communicate resource comparison, assuring that occupants can easily discern whether the building is in a positive, neutral or negative state in terms of resource usage.

Besides screens and colors, BREO explores the possibility of incorporating sounds and aromas. 

How would that work? If the building is in a positive state, residents will hear a pleasant sound; if negative, noise; and neutral, total silence. The same thing would happen with air quality.

This thinking building model that interacts with occupants is interesting. Would you be
willing to have that type of relationship with the property you live in for the good of the
environment?