The new SmartScore certification has recently been launched by WiredScore, the internationally recognised scheme for rating building connectivity.
What is SmartScore?
SmartScore was created to define what a smart building is and provide a clear set of standards to measure “smartness”. Research showed there was little agreement or understanding within the industry of what matters in a smart building, how to create one or even what makes it “smart”.
WiredScore has spent a year working with the WiredScore Smart Council, a team of over 90 tenants, landlords and other property professionals around the world, to develop the framework. WiredScore has also worked with BREEAM, LEED, RESET and WELL to create alignment with their certifications.
So, what is a Smart Building?
WiredScore states that smart buildings must put users first. The needs of users must be identified, then technological solutions implemented to meet them. The user is defined as anyone who benefits from the space, so primarily workers, but also visitors, building managers and even wider society.
Of course the end user is not always known during the early design and build phases, so landlords and developers are faced with the challenge of delivering “smart-enabled” buildings with the technological foundation for smart functionalities.
Wiredscore sets out four key outcomes for users:
An inspirational experience
A sustainable building
Cost efficiencies
Future-proof by design
Why do we need Smart Buildings?
WiredScore identifies three key trends driving the need for smart buildings:
1. Technology in everyday life
Our daily lives are now driven by data; it touches everything from exercise to entertainment. We are used to the level of speed, accessibility and convenience this data provides, and that expectation is now extending to our professional lives. In a survey carried out by WiredScore, 79% of office workers said they would like to work within a technologically advanced office.
“A tech-enabled environment isn’t just nice-to-have for the working world, it’s essential”
2. Changing working habits
Modern working habits are collaborative and driven by technology. Video conferencing, shared documents and synched diaries are considered essential to the modern worker, yet workplaces have generally been slow to adapt to the increased dependence on technology. The pandemic has irreversibly altered the landscape and brings fresh challenges for landlords, who must now seek news ways to attract tenants back to offices. Smart buildings will play a key role in creating attractive workplaces which facilitate efficient and collaborative work.
3. Climate Crisis
Tackling climate change is a global imperative, and buildings (and their associated emissions) contribute nearly 40% of all global emissions. Operating emissions account for almost three quarters of that figure, so reducing them will have a huge impact on climate change. Technology will play a key role in optimising building operation and reducing waste.
Functions of Smart Buildings
WiredScore has set out six key functions of smart buildings:
Individual and collaborative productivity Enabling efficiency and effectiveness through features such as automatic visitor check-in, meeting room and desk booking.
Health and wellbeing Creating safer and healthier work environments through building technology such as air quality monitoring and climate control.
Community and Services Providing access to services such as deliveries and accessibility options and creating a sense of community by providing access to local amenities.
Sustainability Reporting on and improving the sustainability of the building e.g. tracking and optimising energy usage, waste management and providing electric vehicle charging points.
Maintenance and Optimisation Using detailed performance data to optimise the building’s space and systems.
Security Using more advanced systems to create a safer workplace.
What we can offer
Offices still offer things that remote work cannot, however workers’ expectations are higher than ever. With only a handful of buildings in the UK currently committed to the SmartScore certification, investing in smart technology offers an opportunity to stand out.
CWC offers consulting and support services for our clients wishing to obtain certification for their projects. We can provide advice and guidance on the design of future-proofed new developments or the upgrade of their existing buildings, together with technical support through the certification process.
CWC can also add value through the introduction and engagement of market leading managed service providers who we work strategically with, to ensure our clients receive the accredited specialist input required for certification.
To mark INWED22, we spoke with some of our women engineers about what made them decide to be engineers, and how their careers are developing with CWC:
Ellie Schofield
Building Performance Engineer
Time at CWC:
2 years, 11 months
Was engineering presented to you as career option in school / college?
No, engineering was not presented as an option to study at my school and the careers available in the sector were not discussed. I was influenced by a family member and a tutor at college that engineering / construction could be a rewarding career, and then became very interested in sustainability within construction whilst at college.
What’s your favourite part of your job?
My favourite part about my job role is feeling like I can make a difference. Due to the negative impacts of global warming at the moment, we work closely with clients to reduce CO2 emissions, which will, in the long run, have a positive impact on the environment.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learnt during your studies and career so far?
My most valuable lesson so far has been to do what I want to do, without the influence of others. For example, I didn’t have any friends studying a construction or engineering-based course when I started my studies, but did it anyway as I knew it was what I wanted to do as a career.
What do you think puts women and girls off engineering / construction?
I don’t believe females are necessarily put of the idea of working in the industry, but they are not given advice on the opportunities in the same way that males are. Therefore, I think this leads to many females not having the confidence to go for an education or job role within the sector.
What do you think the industry can do recruit more women?
I believe the industry should aim to work more closely with schools, to ensure that children understand the roles within the construction and engineering sector, so girls know from a young age they can take an engineering career path.
What advice would you give to girls considering a career in the construction industry / engineering?
The advice I would give is that females can be successful in the construction / engineering industry, it does not matter what gender you are. If you are interested and willing to learn, anyone can build a good career.
Jessica Seddon
CAD / REVIT Technician
Time at CWC:
3 years, 10 months
Was engineering presented to you as career option in school / college?
In all honesty, it wasn’t. It was something I looked into myself along with other similar roles such as architecture. In high school student were also pushed strongly towards university, with apprenticeships and work-based learning routes really downplayed. They unfortunately had a reputation of being only for ‘naughty’ or ‘less intelligent’ students, which is completely incorrect!
I imagine things have improved since 2012 when I left school. I really think that if we want to bring more women into the industry that’s where it starts. At that age when students are thinking about their careers, we need to help then identify the best way to get there.
How have you developed in your current role?
For the past two years I’ve been steadily managing the CAD/RVT/BIM workload within our Liverpool office. I am progressing away from the standard expectations of my role as a technician and more into a lead/management role, which I have been enjoying a lot.
For me it has felt like the natural progression of my career path. I enjoy the challenge and balancing the changing workload. I want to help develop and improve processes and understanding, for myself and the business as a whole. I am passionate about what I do, and I want that passion to translate into the quality of end product CWC puts out there.
What role do you think digital engineering will play in the future of the construction industry?
I really think that Revit and the process of BIM is still being underutilized industry wide. The potential is there for truly collaborative design and I hope to see everyone across the construction industry invest a lot more resources into understanding it.
I feel in our industry that communication can be lacking between different parties involved in a project, and that slows things down. This is where I think Revit and the 3D Collaborative design process can be utilized to its fullest. I’d like to see more projects using cloud based services such as BIM360, where all disciplines feed their model information into one central file.
This level of collaboration does pose its own unique challenges, and it is very different from the standard information releases used across the industry at present. But it has so many advantages, and if used correctly it helps the 3D modelling process to aid pre-emptive design, helping to eliminate problems that could arise in the construction phase early on.
To me, this is what Revit should be used for. It’s a fantastic bit of software that is so much more than just 3D coordination and making nice looking renders for presentations.
SUSTAINABILITY
The built environment has a huge impact on the planet, but we can mitigate this is through building services.
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