South Florida Intelligent Building Trends of 2016

Take a look back at South Florida Intelligent Building Trends of 2016

South Florida has had an active year in the Intelligent Building sector of industry. New trends and innovations in the field saw a growing interest in 2016. Intelligent building design’s purpose is to create more efficient, energy saving, cost-effective structures that benefit both their company and the surrounding environment. Going “green” has been one of the popular trends that have taken hold in many communities across South Florida. It isn’t about building bigger or taller, it’s about building smarter.

There is a growing trend for building integrated automation systems within structures that helps you monitor and control every aspect of your systems operations. You will be able to maximize efficiency, productivity and performance while reducing waste and excess energy usage. An integrated automation system helps you maintain the integrity of each component of operation, enabling you to regulate every sub-system to operate at its peak performance level. Your system will monitor and control many areas of your operation including:

• Air quality control and monitoring
• Utility monitoring
• Security monitoring

The benefits of intelligent building will have a positive impact on the land, coast, air, and water of South Florida improving the environment for healthier living. An air quality control system in your building allows you to direct all operations that involve safer indoor air quality inside your building, and also outdoor areas. Some of the considerations that your system will manage are:

• Air ventilation and circulation
• Dust and other pollutants
• Mold spores
• CO2 emissions
• Heating, cooling and humidity

Great advances have been made in utility monitoring systems for retail and commercial buildings. Advanced Control Corporation can help you build an intelligent building management system that will enable you to monitor and control energy consumption within your budget. Your utility monitoring system will monitor energy usage and identify problems, enabling your to correct inefficiencies where needed. New innovative technology allows you to collect data from real time as it is being retrieved through sub-metering dashboards within the system.

Energy conservation is a growing global concern that has been integrated into intelligent building design trends. By implementing an energy conservation project into your intelligent building design, you will be able to maximize energy usage while lowering energy costs. Energy conservation systems can be customized to meet your business needs and are also flexible enough to adapt and change to meet new criteria or adapt to new technological advances. Your system will be able to adapt to future unexpected challenges in energy conservation.

Other new and exciting trends that entered the intelligent building market in 2016 include:

• Energy-asset buildings through the energy cloud
• Building adaptation to climate change policy
• Optimized HVAC
• On-site energy resources
• Data-driven energy management
• Lighting re-invention
• Hardware and software analytics for buildings
• Grid-integrated buildings
• Intelligent building water management systems
• Developing smart cities with intelligent buildings
• Outsourced energy management
• Cyber security innovation

Newer developments are changing intelligent building systems into optimal performance, conservation intended, and cost effective dynamic centers of operation. Technological advances are being made in data-acquisition devices and IT and traditional building automation systems that will create a new, improved menu of business operations. Cloud computing will expand in intelligent building trends because they are secure, scalable and open platforms that are sustainable to current operations and continuing trends.

South Florida’s intelligent building trends reflect vast and wide open room to improve every area of building operations and energy conservation. Trends cover much more ground than what has been discussed here and continue to grow as research and development continues. City and State policies are changing with a demand for more intelligent building solutions to conserve energy and the environment. Advanced Control Corporation is an industry leader in South Florida helping hundreds of companies adapt to the intelligent building market. If you are one of those companies that need to upgrade your systems to an energy efficient, cost-effective intelligent operation, we are the company that can implement the necessary changes.

You can start moving your business into future by following intelligent building trends by contacting Advanced Control Corporation today at 954-491-6660.

Green Building Energy Management

How green building energy management systems improve energy efficiency

Green building energy management solutions can significantly improve the energy-efficiency of commercial buildings, making them more affordable, comfortable, and sustainable. Energy-efficiency is one of the central issues driving the green building movement. Commercial buildings account for 20% of the energy use in the United States. A significant amount of this energy is wasted through the needless cooling, lighting, and ventilation of unoccupied areas in commercial structures. By regulating environmental systems and modifying energy use according to the occupancy status of building areas, a green building energy management system can reduce a commercial building’s power consumption by as much as 30 percent.

Why energy management solutions are needed

Cooling, ventilation, and lighting account for more than 60% of the energy use in commercial buildings, according to the U.S. Energy Department. At any given time, 30% to 40% of a commercial building is unoccupied, but lighting and environmental systems typically remain on in these empty areas. As a result, as much as almost 30% of a commercial building’s energy use is needlessly wasted. Green energy management solutions respond to changing conditions in the building, leveraging occupancy information to dictate where and how energy is used. By shutting off or regulating resource use in unoccupied areas, energy management systems can improve the energy efficiency of buildings and achieve a significant reduction in operating costs.

How energy management solutions work

Green energy management solutions can be incorporated into new buildings as they are constructed or retrofit into existing structures. They use building automation systems to integrate the electrical, mechanical, and security systems in a building. Once integrated, the building systems can exchange and share information so they work together more effectively. Motion sensors, RFID scanners, and other occupancy sensors placed throughout the building register when an area becomes unoccupied. The energy management system turns off lights and adjusts temperature control in unoccupied areas to reduce unnecessary energy use.

Green energy management systems can also control lighting and temperature according to a set schedule. Lighting controls can range from basic systems that use time and zone controls to fully automatic central building management systems that control all of the lighting and equipment in multiple facilities. HVAC controls can include an Automatic Tenant Override system so that tenants can remotely access controls in their section of the building.

Benefits of green building energy management solutions

Green energy management solutions offer significant advantages to commercial building owners and tenants. By reducing the amount of energy used by commercial buildings, green energy management solutions offer significant cost savings for owners. Tenant acquisition and retention rates are higher, as many tenants now seek out green buildings. They appreciate the lower energy costs, as well as the improved comfort and convenience that comes from occupying a more responsive building system.

If you are interested in a green building energy management system for your new building or existing structure, Advanced Control Corporation’s energy experts can help. We’ve been green since before green was cool. As the industry leader in green building energy management solutions in South Florida since 1987, Advanced Control Corporation has helped thousands of buildings improve their energy efficiency and reduce their environmental footprint.

Contact Advanced today at 954-491-6660 to discover how a green building energy management solution can improve your commercial building’s performance.

Green Energy Business Ideas: Using Green Energy to Power Your Business

Upgrade your business and equipment with smart green energy solutions from Advanced Control 

Green energy has become the new standard for operating a business that is energy efficient, cost effective and environmentally safe. There are increasing amounts of new green products and services available as the industry grows in leaps and bounds. Learning about different types of green energy for your business will help save you money on utilities and operating costs, and also help to sustain the life of each individual system within your operation.

With an integrated building management system (BMS), your personnel will be able to access and manage every area of your property to increase efficiency and reduce waste. Your BMS will give authorized personnel the ability to schedule, monitor and manage all systems including heating, lighting, air-conditioning, HVAC and more. By utilizing smart green energy solutions you will decrease energy usage, increase efficiency, recycle used water and protect both the indoor and outdoor environment. Access to real-time data, plus archival data, will allow you to measure the performance and output of each system and correct areas in need of improvement. Your building management system, or building automation system, will put you at the helm of directing all energy systems and keep them operating at their maximum level of performance. You may also see a decrease in your annual operating expenses by as much as 15%.

Advanced Control Corporation can share many green energy business ideas with you and incorporate them into your existing BMS system or install them as a separate entity. A lighting management system will control all lighting within your structure through timing schedules to shut down lighting when areas of the building are unoccupied. Motion sensors will be able to determine if an area becomes occupied and the lighting will turn on. This is a smart solution for restrooms, utility closets, etc, and your tenants or personnel can also have the advantage of overriding the system if need be. Outdoor areas such as walkways, signage, parking lots and garages, etc. will also be managed by your lighting management system. A lighting management system can help to reduce your building’s lighting costs by as much as 25%.

Other types of green energy systems can shut down office equipment, vending machines, etc. that are not in use to increase savings in electric costs and enhance the life of the equipment. Cooling, heating humidity and air ventilation control will also be improved with the use of smart green energy solutions. Toxins, pollutants, air quality, dust and mold growth are all monitored by your BMS to protect indoor building area occupants, and also outdoor areas including parking garages, loading docks, and more. Your building management system will be able to receive, analyze and store data from meters, sub-meters and sensors, and authorized personnel can re-program and manage any system at will.

For companies that wish to reduce their carbon footprint and upgrade their building to the recognized green standard of a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, Advanced Control Corporation can help. Once you have decided which level of the nine LEED Green Building Rating System qualifications you prefer, we can help you achieve that goal. We are experienced and proficient in all aspects of LEED certification products, construction and systems recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council. A LEED certification elevates your structure to a high level of green building design and construction, environmental conservation, high energy efficiency and utilization of advanced technology.

Your building’s green energy systems will operate more proficiently, and your operating expenses will decrease when you install an intelligent BMS. If you would like to learn more about green energy business ideas or LEED certification, contact Advanced Control Corporation today at 954-491-6660.

Green Jobs in Energy Management

Green jobs in the energy management industry are growing in numbers

There is an upswing of green jobs in energy management since the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Green career training and jobs are growing in the public, private and non-profit sectors for green energy with a range from entry-level to professional positions. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) offers student internship programs for such fields as solar and fuel cells, atmospheric sciences, global carbon cycles, energy efficiency, climatology and more. Information regarding the internships can be found on the U.S. Department of Energy’s website.

Some green job positions are seeing rapid growth such as the rise in wind powered sales jobs since the IRS began offering tax credits for renewable energy systems. There are many positions available in wind power energy and all are an integral part of the success of the industry. Entry-level positions for wind energy green careers cover trade and construction workers, meteorological technicians and more. Mid-level jobs include sales, construction managers, technical trainers and instructors, etc. and the advanced level comprises resource scientists, electrical engineers, analysts and researchers, asset managers and more. The industry works through all phases from project development, component manufacturing, construction, operations, and education, training and research. Renewable energy is a growing field that offers a wide range of positions.

Home energy auditors are another growing field of green building design. The auditor will assess the home and determine where there are faults, malfunctions, waste and over-use of energy, and make recommendations for improvement. The auditor can show a homeowner how to eliminate waste and decrease energy consumption just by adding insulation or replacing windows. Many energy efficiency service companies hire auditors who have knowledge in home construction and energy efficiency. Anyone who wishes to enter this field of expertise should acquire a building analyst certification, which is considered the proper training program for this field.

Green engineering is a green construction technology needed to identify the best qualified building sites. Engineering expertise is needed to create areas for water run-off, and heating, cooling and ventilation systems that are green certified. Green engineering promotes environmental sustainability while minimizing toxins and pollutants by designing products and processes that achieve these goals. It is the framework for all design principles to conserve and protect the environment while also protecting human health and well-being.

Teachers are an important part of the growing green careers movement. As the industry progresses, more teachers and instructors will be needed to educate workers in green building design and technology. Many teachers have LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification credentials. LEED is the recognized standard for all green construction using environmentally friendly products, techniques and designs. Anyone who passes a series of exams given by the U.S. Green Building Council can earn a LEED certification.

Sales are another area of green jobs that is growing rapidly. Many businesses are seeking green energy solutions for their business operations to minimize waste, and cut back on energy usage and operating costs. The demand for renewable energy is increasing both in the private and commercial/industrial sectors, and there are many sub-sectors in the industry such as contractors, landscapers, solar energy makers, window and door manufacturers, etc. A full sales package may also include installation, maintenance and repair services. There is no limit to the products and services that are available in the green construction technology field.

Advanced Control Corporation is an industry leader in green building design, and has helped many buildings become LEED certified. Our knowledge and expertise in green building and technology is unsurpassed. If you are interested in learning more about green construction technology or perhaps are interested in a green career, contact Advanced Control Corporation today at 954-491-6660.

Miami Building Automation Solutions

Run a Safer, More Efficient Operation with Miami Building Automation Solutions

As a business owner or manager, your company’s structure, property and IT data could be at risk of damage or theft without a Miami building automation solutions system. When you integrate a fully automated system into your existing structure or multiple sites, you are taking the first necessary step toward securing your company assets. Advanced Control Corporation has helped many businesses incorporate a smart and effective security strategy to safeguard against damage, loss, theft and criminal activity. Securing your business with a building management system can deter criminal misdeeds, break-ins, tampering and employee theft. By closing wormholes, portals and access points you will be reducing security risks at every level of your business operation. While keeping your assets secure, an intelligent business management strategy will also protect employees and visitors on your company’s property.

You may be wondering what a fully integrated building management system entails. Your company’s system would be uniquely customized and designed to meet the necessary criteria needed to secure all areas of your business operation. All building systems could be accessed and managed by authorized personnel whether they are on or off the premises. Your structures and their interior systems could be locked down or opened up on command, giving you the upper hand in the event of a security breach.

Security initiatives could include surveillance cameras, closed circuit television (CCTV), lighting control, building and elevator access control, and more. Video analytics can be monitored and controlled in real time to assess any strange behavior of building occupants, or unauthorized access to restricted areas. Access control systems allow your management to determine who has access to physical, logical or digital resources within your building. Any type of misconduct would be viewed in real time, so that the necessary steps to secure occupants, resources and specific areas of your building is made possible. Intelligent building automation solutions are your company’s operative defense against any security risk or concession.

Closed circuit television (CCTV) is just one aspect of an efficient automation system. Videos cameras are set up throughout your building to patrol specified areas, and that information is privately transmitted to monitors in a localized zone where security personnel can study the information. This equips your security team with a continuous stream of surveillance for safety and security purposes.

Advanced Control Corporation offers many different types of CCTV camera surveillance systems and our expert technicians can suggest which ones would best suit your business needs. CCTV camera systems are used by banks, airports, industrial and military installations and retail establishments as one element of a building management system safety net. Your company’s security team can determine the timetable and areas that your CCTV surveillance system would operate in. In highly restricted, dangerous areas that are unsafe for long-term human occupancy, a CCTV surveillance system is essential.

Our technicians can explain the differences among thermal imaging cameras, network IP cameras, fixed position cameras, etc. and which ones are most suitable to your company needs and requirements. You will be able to achieve complete flexibility of control in monitoring, recording and organizing data from your CCTV automation system. Our experts will help you determine system perimeters, and select the proper equipment. We do all of the installation and will service your system to keep it operating at its full potential. At Advanced Control Corporation, we offer you the finest products and services to establish the best building automation solutions system you can attain.

Protect your business with a Miami building automation solutions integrated system. To learn more about how we can help you achieve complete security management, contact Advanced Control Corporation today at 954-491-6660.

How Installing a Commercial Lighting Control System Can Save Your Company in Utilities

Increase safety and cut costs with a building lighting control system from Advanced Control

As a business owner or manager, you know the importance of eliminating unnecessary operating expenses. By incorporating the right equipment into your building’s automation system, you will be able to manage and control your building’s energy output. This will enable you to cut costs while also providing security protection for your employees and all other building occupants. Advanced Control Corporation can show you how installing a commercial lighting control system can save your company in utilities costs, and provide you with extra benefits as well. We can help you integrate a commercial lighting control system into your current operation or create a system for new construction. Authorized personnel will have a full range of control to monitor and manage the lighting system within every area of your building. This leverage will provide your company with lower utility bills and also provide each building area with adequate lighting for security purposes.

Your building lighting control system can be managed by time-of-day switching applications from a time clock that will shut down lighting in areas that are unoccupied. This is a practical application for businesses that operate at specific times of the day, or in specific areas of a building that are occupied during certain hours of the day. With an automated lighting control system all lighting circuits are integrated into one centralized management location. Your building illumination control system would function by using light level sensors to manage the amount of light being emitted in specific areas. It would also use motion detector applications to determine if an area is occupied or not. Authorized personnel will have access and command of occupancy, scheduling and dimming controls throughout your structure.

By managing your company’s lighting system you can provide security measures for building occupants and also those outside the building. Parking garages, parking lots, walkways, signage, loading docks, handicap access and other features can all be controlled by an integrated commercial lighting control system. Security measures will be increased, plus adequate lighting control deters crime, burglary and property damage. You will be providing a safer environment for your employees and visitors, plus also protecting your building’s assets. Your lighting control system becomes a part of your company’s perpetual watchdog along with other integrated surveillance and security systems. With so many options available, Advanced Control Corporation can customize a building illumination control system for your structure based on your company’s goals, needs and budget.

A commercial lighting control system would also include tenant override technology in the format of a smartphone-based override module system. This would provide your tenants with the capability to override lighting, temperature and HVAC systems. Override technology would include indoor areas such as restrooms, cubicles, storage areas, cafeterias and more. Outdoor areas such as parking garages, walkways, loading docks, etc. can also be included to provide complete access and control of every area of your business operation. You can choose from a singular stand-alone system or an integrated networked system. We also offer Fast Ethernet-based building illumination systems. Through Ethernet technology your authorized management personnel will be able to access and share data among your controllers throughout your structure with lightening speed. Ethernet-based technology is the ideal system to use if you are managing a large commercial or industrial area.

If it is time to upgrade your facility and take advantage of lower costs and a safer environment by improving your company’s existing system with a new commercial lighting control system, contact Advanced Control Corporation today at 954-491-6660.

Florida Energy Management Systems Help Sunshine State Save

Upgrade your Florida structure with energy-saving building automation systems from Advanced Control

If you are wondering how Florida energy management systems help the Sunshine State save on money and resources, you have come to the right place. Advanced Control Corporation has been helping Florida businesses become more energy efficient and environmentally responsible since 1987. We are an industry leader with a wide variety of comprehensive services that include cost-effective energy management systems, intelligent systems integration, access control, CCTV surveillance systems and much more.

Since our company was founded we have been green conscious and committed to preserving the natural Florida environment.  To achieve this objective, we are focused on eliminating waste while managing and reducing energy usage. In our efforts to protect the Florida environment and produce a cost-effective efficient energy automation system for our clients, we design the initial energy concept, carry-out the installation and provide continual maintenance to keep all systems running at their optimal levels. For more than 27 years, Advanced Control Corporation has been constructing energy automation systems for a countless number of buildings in Florida. Our building automation systems have made a measurable impact in reducing the carbon footprint of these buildings on the Florida environment.

Building Automation Systems - First Steps

Advanced Control Corporation believes that the first step to achieving sustainability is to incorporate an efficient energy management system into your existing structure. Your company will be at an advantage by becoming energy efficient through benefits like minimizing increasing energy costs, adding value to your business and property, and providing sustainability to your business and the environment. When you partner with us, we will conduct an energy analysis of your existing system to determine where problems exist and offer solutions. Our team will create a cost-effective energy efficient building strategy through the integration of a building automation system (BAS). An energy efficient building will solve energy efficiency problems, provide security for occupants, IT data and equipment, and secure indoor environmental comfort and safety.  Your building automation system will decrease equipment operating cost expenditures by approximately 15 percent. A Florida energy management system in a 100 square-foot building can reduce energy costs by approximately $.15 per square-foot. These figures add up to a substantial annual savings in operating cost expenditures. Besides generating more savings for your business, you are also helping to conserve the natural Florida environment.

An inefficient energy system will create out-of-control energy usage and costs. When you integrate the appropriate energy automation systems into your building you are able to identify problems and create solutions. You will be utilizing the latest building management technology through interactive tools such as sub-metering dashboards while viewing and storing real-time energy usage data. By keeping track of your system’s energy usage you are able to gauge performance and identify faults and failures. Advanced Control Corporation will recommend energy saving solutions to reach optimal efficiency. Our talented and experienced support team can assist you and authorized personnel in understanding data to successfully monitor and manage all power systems, whether they are in one structure or multiple structures. We can analyze and interpret data and provide your company with a viable plan that can quickly be utilized to begin saving money. Your building automation system can also manage multiple rental properties and measure the individual energy usage of each tenant. We also provide you with easy to read interactive dashboards to oversee power usage data in real-time.

If you would like to learn more about energy management systems that will save your company money and resources, contact Advanced Control Corporation today at 954-491-6660.