Smart Technology Helps Make Buildings More Sustainable

May 16th, 2008

As buildings get smarter and the devices in them can communicate with networks, we will be better able to collect and interpret EHS data and meet sustainability objectives. Some buildings, like the Louvre Museum in Paris and the Sears Tower in Chicago, are already smart, and their networks enable energy efficiency and reduce pressure on the grid. In addition, they enable consistent monitoring and collection of data to minimize risk.

It seems to me that smart buildings should be part of a sustainability strategy that proposes to get ahead of incidents, not just respond to them. One of the providers of networked controls for these buildings, Echelon, a technology company, works closely with Duke Energy, one of our clients. Duke Energy’s “Utility of the Future and Save-a-Watt programs are integral to our vision of embracing the latest and most reliable networking technologies to bring about a new age in electricity delivery, distribution and management — one that is driven by knowledgeable consumers, customer-service and energy efficiency.” Those words come directly from CEO Jim Rogers at an Echelon event yesterday.

Echelon, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this week, was founded by one of the co-founders of Apple, Mike Markkula. Here’s how he describes his vision: “Twenty years ago I founded Echelon with the simple idea that if tiny computers could be embedded all around us, monitoring and sensing their local environment and communicating that information with others of their kind, we could transform industries. We saw a world of smart buildings, factories, homes and utility networks that used our technology to run more efficiently; lower costs; and improve quality, productivity and comfort. It took a tremendous amount of invention and innovation to bring that idea to reality – a reality that has exceeded my imagination. Today there are devices around the world networked with our technology, bringing intelligence to the infrastructure all around us and driving change across these industries and more.”

So when Echelon built its corporate headquarters in San Jose during the California energy crisis a few years ago, it “ate its own dog food,” integrating its LONWorks open source embedded network technologies into the building at an incremental cost of about $3 per foot. Now its systems can make energy use plummet by 30 percent within three minutes, which is a good way to respond to the threat of rolling blackouts. The Bay Area in California is often subject to such blackouts during heat waves, as are most Southwest cities.

As humans get smarter about integrating devices and platforms, we can mitigate the effects of climate change. I admire Mike Markkula.

Tags: apple duke energy echelon ehs jim rogers mike markkula sustainability

Entry Filed under: Sustainability