Automation and efficiency are two words that naturally go together. But what about automation and wellness?
From the recognition of Sick Building Syndrome in the 1970s to the rise of green building certifications in the 1990s, wellness in building design is nothing new. Yet as automation technology advances, wellness certifications gain popularity, and more research shows the benefits of wellness in building design, we should raise the question: how can building automation and occupant wellness go hand in hand? As it turns out, they can in lots of ways!
Occupant-focused building controls improve health, comfort, and productivity, not just energy and cost savings. Especially important in offices, schools, and healthcare facilities, wellness in building design will continue to grow in sophistication and implementation as new technologies emerge and demand increases. Learn how lighting, HVAC, and adaptive control systems are changing alongside this trend.
At Functional Devices, we live and breathe automation. We also literally live and breathe, so focusing on building automation and occupant wellness together makes sense. Our range of automation devices makes human-centric design possible. Explore the options and contact us for help with smart building productivity and comfort.
Lighting Control and Circadian Health
Lighting is a big deal in commercial spaces, especially if you’re staring at a computer screen and exposed to artificial lighting all day. By manipulating circadian rhythms, light can influence mood, alertness, and sleep cycles (ever heard that you shouldn’t look at your phone before bed?).
Upgrading your automated lighting controls with smart components allows your building’s lights to adjust automatically throughout the day based on time of day and occupancy. Changes in intensity and color temperature can significantly improve occupant comfort and better align bodies with the natural world. Adjustable white lighting can promote alertness in the morning and relaxation as the day is winding down.
Occupancy and daylight sensors are the smart components that ensure your lights respond appropriately. Implementing daylight harvesting, which prioritizes available natural light over artificial light, can also help boost mood and productivity.
What might this look like in an office space? In the morning, smart building automation adjusts artificial lighting to be brighter and cooler to promote alertness. Then, in the late afternoon, artificial lighting is reduced as natural sunlight enters the office space. Finally, as the day wraps up, office lighting gets dimmer and warmer, signaling the body to wind down.
HVAC and Indoor Air Quality: Breathing Easier
It’s no secret that indoor air quality is essential (that’s what a big part of Sick Building Syndrome is all about!). Research shows that good ventilation and air quality improve cognitive performance and comfort. Demand-controlled ventilation, powered by building automation, can adjust airflow based on occupancy and CO₂ levels, allowing for more fresh air as demand increases.
Additionally, an automated HVAC system's precise temperature and humidity control can significantly improve comfort and enhance focus, reducing discomfort and preventing issues like dry air and fatigue. Sensors can signal the HVAC system that more ventilation, temperature adjustments, and humidity control are needed.
Adaptive Environments: Comfort That Responds to People
As the previous two sections have shown, smart building automation offers remarkable adaptability. Different types of sensors, personal preferences, and scheduling data allow facility managers to respond to current conditions, constantly tailoring the indoor environment in real time. Adaptability is key to wellness in building design.
To further enhance building automation for comfort, consider incorporating additional adaptive systems beyond lighting and HVAC controls. Some of these systems and environments include:
- Spatial flexibility, like movable walls, floors, roofs, and seating
- Adaptive noise control, like utilizing sound masking technology
- Integrated security and comfort systems, like smart locks and surveillance
- Adjustable microclimates, like ceiling fans and operable windows
Because the interior of your building is ever-changing, dynamic automation systems that can adjust in response to real-time data gathered by smart devices can achieve the best occupant well-being and comfort.
Designing for People, Not Just Performance
Energy efficiency and cost savings are important, don’t get us wrong. But if you stop there, the people inside your building might be unhappy or unproductive due to the environment. The smartest buildings serve humans, not just the bottom line. When thoughtfully integrated, lighting, HVAC, and adaptive control systems can profoundly improve how people feel and function in a space.
The engineers at Functional Devices would be happy to help you with that thoughtful integration. Our dependable, flexible solutions are ideal for designing occupant-focused building controls. Whether you’re looking for wireless occupancy sensors, EnOcean relays, or other general automation or lighting products, we’ve got you covered. Start working towards better building automation and occupant wellness today!