Reopening: What Automation-Enabled Offices Will Look Like Post The Pandemic

 

The Covid-19 pandemic led to a massive disruption in the way the world functions. Back in the year 2020, people faced challenges while setting up home offices and working online. Offices are reopening while adhering to Covid norms. Employee health and safety are top priorities for organisations. Office automation is no longer just a 'luxury' but a necessity. Enabling modern solutions like digital automation, motion sensors, and voice detectors will effectively help deal with the pandemic. 

Digital Automation

With the world moving towards digitisation, various IoT (Internet of things) devices are gaining popularity. These devices help reduce employees' contact with the surfaces. For example, the automation with a Lutron Processor system enables scenes to be activated based upon the time of the day on an Astronomic time clock. Wireless wall-mounted keypads, allow for easy retrofit applications. This system replicates the controls on devices like smartphones, tablets, etc. 

Smart LEDs can adjust the light temperature of the room varying from a warm white (3000k)to cool white (5000k) and daylight levels of a particular space. For instance, the Lutron Digital Addressable lighting interface (DALI) modules provide different ambient lighting experiences to meet the occupants' needs. All these measures can help improve employee productivity and overall office experience.

Occupancy Sensors

Today, building automation and control tools are available to process and analyse occupancy patterns. These are called occupancy sensors that help to detect when a space is unoccupied and thus turn the lights off. As a result, one can save more energy and reduce carbon footprint. For example, the Lutron ceiling mount sensors feature high-end in ceiling sensors with minor motion detection ability. The dual technology version provides optimal energy saving and occupancy detection. This self-adaptive technology helps to eliminate the need for manual adjustments. Data from the sensors can also be fed to the Building Management Systems to manage the HVAC loads as well, thus maximizing energy savings.

Voice Technology

With voice-enabled devices, one can request services and enable contactless operations. Moreover, employees can use appliances without touching handles and buttons, making work simpler and ensuring social distancing. In addition, most voice-enabled devices understand commands like managing meetings, controlling conference room devices, and setting room temperature, simplifying work nitty-gritty.

HVAC System 

Smart building automation helps in creating a healthier and pleasant environment for employees. For example, ventilation systems with air cleaning and filtration technology can help reduce airborne contaminants creating a safer and more hygienic workplace. For instance, the Coolmaster System by Anusha Technovision facilitates seamless integration of the HVAC systems. The system provides services like maintaining the thermostat, touch keypad/dynamic keypad for control, occupancy/vacancy sensor, Lutron Connect App, etc.

The office spatiality is changing. Post the pandemic as the staff re-acclimate to the new normal, building improvisations and automation will increase office efficiency with employee well-being as the mainstay. Automated office engagement and innovation, embracing a hybrid work model will help deal with the pandemic effectively.

 

One of the new trends in international and multinational companies is to now focus on the Wellness factor in addition to focusing on minimizing the energy consumption in the building. As such now “wellness ratings” in addition to the LEEDS Energy ratings are being sought from international rating agencies. The realization dawns that the cost of energy in the building is nothing compared to the cost of employees and as such savings should be focused on increasing the productivity of the employees in proportion to the increased  “wellness”  -now being the new Mantra.

Eco-Friendly Commercial Automation

No matter what kind of business one may run, you might find yourself wasting more energy as each month goes by. But how can one reduce their carbon footprint while trying to keep up with the daily needs of the business? You could own a restaurant or a small business or a large corporate office – but either way, a smart and innovative commercial automation system can significantly impact your energy usage for the better. Anusha Technovision Pvt. Ltd. (ATPL) can provide the space with the smart features necessary to lower your bills and make your business eco-friendly. Keep reading below to learn more about the commercial automation technologies that can make your commercial setup automated!

In US, as per data on the US government website, 38% of the Total energy consumed in a Corporate Building is on account of Lighting. A reduction is the lighting usage can significantly reduce the total energy consumption. That is where Lightingcontrol strategies involving  High End Trim, Day Lighting, Vacancy Sensing, Time Scheduling, Motorised Shades among others would help significantly in Energy Saving.

High End Trim: With the help of dimming we start off with Maximum out put of Lighting Fixtures clipped to 80%. The logic being that Human eye cannot easily differentiate between 10-20% reductions in light from a maximum of 100%.

Day Lighting: The use of Day Light sensors to measure the sunlight available and correspondingly reducing the output of Light Fixtures helps save energy.

Vacancy Sensing: Entering into a conference room and manually turning lights on, but having the facility where in – on exit the vacancy sensor automatically turns lights or even air conditioning off can significantly reduce energy costs and is a commonly used method today for energy saving.

Time Scheduling: Using a Time clock to reduce the over all lighting after normal office hours in public areas is one method of energy saving. The areas could also be places like Parking Lots where the maximum traffic is known to happen at certain times in the day and lighting can be adjusted according to the same.

Motorised shades: Automated shades are the perfect solution to cut down on the number of lights needed. With just a push of a button, you can lower or raise the shades at your command. Any of the employees or workers can operate the tech themselves – before a presentation, a meeting, or if a customer asks to have the natural sunlight come through.But when the sun is at its perfect spot, the shades can let the light in for everyone to enjoy its warm glow. When the shades are up – the lights can dim or turn off completely, effectively eliminating this waste of energy.

IN many places with intelligent software the shades can be made to raise or lower depending upon the path of the sun, automatically. Thus glare can be avoided when sunlight is direct and obstructing the ease of work on a desktop by bring shades down , where as in the same space depending on sun path when natural light is not the cause of glare, shades can be taken up to bring lighting and view for the space user.

Motorized windows are not just great for balancing a room’s lighting but they also provide the ultimate insulation for your business. Shades are able to create insulation, by relying on how they are installed.With a “gap” in between the shade and wall, there is an ideal amount of space created that acts as insulation for the building.In the summer, the HVAC will not have to work overtime to cool down the company space, and in winter, the heating bills won’t be nearly as high. Smart shades can keep one warmer or colder when needed, without even lifting a finger.

Measurement:

All Above strategies can save energy. However in order to measure the actual saving it is important that a big commercial building also invests in a proper Lighting Management System (LMS) that comprises of hard ware and software to measure, control and suggest energy saving methods based upon actual data and usage in the space.

                                                                                   - Alok Hada, Anusha Technovision Pvt. Ltd.