Even as recently as a few years ago plant efficiency was often measured through metrics tied only to the production process.  While production is still the primary focus, progressive manufacturers are now looking more closely at the systems supporting production, such as base-building HVAC and lighting controls to more closely monitor energy consumption and carbon emissions, security cameras that can capture usable video in real-time, and digital access control to help keep key areas of the plant secure.

Who knew in the early 1800s that water and steam power would one day be referred to as “Industry 1.0”? Using the term at the time would have had more than a few people looking at you sideways. The development of “Industry 2.0” (Oil/Gas/Electrification and assembly line technology) followed by “Industry 3.0”, Digitization, were natural progressions in the competitive and complex manufacturing sector and in the broader economy. We’re now in the early-mid stages of Industry 4.0 where traditional digital machines and systems are sharing data through local and/or cloud-based algorithms to enhance operational and supply-chain efficiency. A big question in our minds, as building technology integrators, is this: is this trend of “informed data” extending to base-building systems in customers’ Industry 4.0 journey?

Digitalization is all about access to actionable data. Open up and re-use existing technologies, add IoT and sensors, and take control and ownership over all your data. Share resources, investments, and data between organizations under complete control.

Over the past decade most building owners and managers have been upgrading their legacy analogue cameras to higher resolution internet protocol (IP) high-definition cameras with impressive results, though one challenge persists; running new data cables for new IP cameras in elevators is expensive. Add to this the fact that data cable is not well-suited in this high-rise application due to distance limitations and the high-voltage, high EMI environment. Future maintenance and troubleshooting are also made less efficient and more costly since servicing a switch that’s located in an elevator mechanical room often requires the presence of the elevator company, at their insistence.

Today we rely on facility managers or tenants to detect and report a water leak in the building.  Having said that, in most cases, the leaks occur gradually or when least expected. In some instances, water leaks occur in areas that are seldom checked.

The City of Markham is proud to accept IESO’s 2018 Energy Manager of the Year, Most Innovative Project Award for the redesign and standardization of the Building Automation Systems (BAS) for Markham’s entire building fleet. viridian is so thrilled to be a part of this project! Our team designed, implemented and commissioned the integrated building automation system on this award winning energy project. We love doing a small part in making the world a little greener!

Thanks to everyone who attended viridian’s 4th annual Connected Building Technologies Event at the ROM last Friday morning!

Delta’s Sensorless Vector Control Drive CP2000 Series VFD has extended the idea of energy saving and uses this principal as the basis of its design. The CP2000 is specifically designed for applications such as air blowers, pumps and HVAC drives with its intelligent PID control providing the greatest efficiency.