SMART BUILDINGS
COVID FORCES A SMART BUILDINGS RETHINK
The pandemic is revolutionising office designs with more emphasis on healthier , smarter and more efficient environments
WRITTEN BY : DOMINIC ELLIS
The return to offices has started . But while there may be disagreements between companies on how often staff should attend the office , there can be no question that the notion of corporate life has changed irrevocably during the pandemic .
The advent of remote working , rush to digitalisation and emphasis on sustainability has consigned pre-pandemic practices to history – and no more so than in the buildings and construction sector .
According to a recent Honeywell report , Rethinking Buildings Post-COVID-19 , 75 % of surveyed US facility managers say COVID-19 has caused them to permanently rethink how their facility operates . Nearly 60 % are more likely to invest in indoor air quality optimisation , and other healthy building solutions , rising to 70 % who are willing to invest in smart building solutions that help drive efficiency and support sustainability efforts .
" A notable transformation driven by the COVID-19 pandemic is prompting US facility leaders to reconsider their operational strategies and invest in smarter , healthier technologies ," said Vimal Kapur , president and chief executive officer , Honeywell Building Technologies .
" As occupants become more aware of how the buildings they use for work , school and care can affect their well-being , we expect them to push building owners and operators to implement new procedures with efficient , sustainable solutions that better support occupants ' safety , comfort , and enhance their experiences , not only for the immediate return to office but for the long term as well ."
The survey results from facility managers in the US underscore five key themes :
The pandemic will likely have a lasting impact on facility management and operations Many believe changes and upgrades made during the pandemic will be kept in place in some form , yet only 36 % of those surveyed expect updates to the air quality system to remain permanent . COVID-19 is also driving facility managers to adjust their priorities and investments . For example , 62 % are more likely to invest in indoor air quality optimisation and other healthy building solutions , and 56 % are more willing to invest in occupant experience solutions like contactless building access , smart parking and personalised experiences .
energydigital . com 47