When you think of all the systems your building operates it can be an overwhelming list! You typically have communication, computing, power, lighting, security, HVAC and fire life and safety systems right? All of these systems help a facility function on a day to day basis by providing a means to communicate with one another, power the building, maintain climate and lighting control, and basic engineering and maintenance. But typically, each of these systems run on a dedicated network with various protocols, which aren’t integrated, increasing complexity, staff, and not to mention points of control.
You’re probably thinking to yourself, “that’s not efficient!”, and it’s not, nor convenient or cost effective for that matter! So why is it that some companies haven’t adopted the concept of convergence? Is it because of the closed standards and protocols that these systems operate off of? Or is it an internal struggle of control between departments? In many cases, it’s both.
Complete system convergence is easier when constructing a new facility, however, open architectures allow existing facilities to align into a single, unified infrastructure. With this alignment comes faster response to building maintenance and emergencies, energy savings, and risk mitigation.
“Commercial and public property owners are looking to smart building technology to boost operational efficiency, achieve energy savings, improve capital planning and reduce their carbon footprints,” said Dan Probst, Chairman of Energy and Sustainability Services at Jones Lang LaSalle. “These advantages, combined with tenant preferences for smart building features, provide a competitive edge for owners and investors.”
By leveraging system convergence and open architectures to create a “smart” building, building operators and facility managers have the ability to not only save time and money, they also have the ability to positively affect the work environment and attract top talent and investors. To learn more about how Panduit can help you converge your systems with our Unified Physical Infrastructure (UPI) approach please visit www.panduit.com/upi.
