Energy Crisis and Building Automation
Published on : Thursday 05-10-2023
The world is facing an unprecedented energy crisis and it is not just about affordability.
People may well have the money, but there will not be enough energy – more appropriately, clean energy – if the Net Zero timelines set by individual countries, companies and industry segments have to be met honestly. Already there are rumblings from various quarters on this account, with even developed countries like the UK and Germany expressing reservations on meeting the deadlines for electromobility. While moving away from fossil fuels for mobility, one must ensure the electricity for charging the vehicles is green. In a world used to guzzling energy, where any attempt at conservation is usually met with disdain or scepticism, it is an uphill task. But the clock is ticking and it is time everyone takes the energy crisis seriously. One way forward is for people to make use of less energy. Now this is easier said than done. For long, energy consumption is viewed as a yardstick of development and prosperity and every country and citizen aspires for a better life.
Every problem has a solution and technology today facilitates many of these. It is possible to make less use of energy without compromising on comfort with a few doable actions. Globally, buildings account for about 40% of final energy consumption. A study done by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) states that just by monitoring and automating three things – HVAC systems, lighting and window shading – can result in energy savings of 30-50%. Better design and construction materials, effective insulation, efficient lighting and optimised HVAC can certainly make buildings save energy, but for real and incremental gains, buildings need to be intelligent and smart. This edition of Industrial Automation is focused on Building Automation & Sustainability, where experts debate energy conservation without compromising the safety, comfort and utility of buildings.
