Most intelligent buildings sense or manage several variables, or manage more than one building system, extracting greater performance than several disconnected building systems could achieve. Some form of network, or integrated information system seems to be required for a building to be called "intelligent." Simple thermostats are not considered intelligent, and neither are quite complex HVAC, and cogeneration systems. 2005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Deaths in April • 26: Augusto Roa Bastos • 24: Ezer Weizman • 23: Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen • 23: John Mills • 16: Marla Ruzicka • 9: Andrea Dworkin • 6: Prince Rainier III • 5: Dale Messick • 5: Saul Bellow • 2: Pope John... Bi-metallic thermostat for buildings A thermostat is a device for maintaining the temperature of a system within a range by controlling, either directly or indirectly, the flow of heat energy into or out of the system. ... HVAC (pronounced either H-V-A-C or, occasionally, H-VAK) is an initialism/acronym that stands for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning. This is sometimes referred to as climate control. ...

Current work in intelligent buildings

Most work on intelligent buildings concentrates on a particular subsystem. Building component manufacturers describe many improvements as "intelligent." Currently, intelligent materials, structural systems, and boilers are all advertised.

Office buildings

Engineers, architects and interior designers often use the phrase "intelligent building" to mean an office building with telecommunications that allow rapid reconfiguration of the interior layout for a client.

Controlling mechanical and electrical systems

When engineers say a building is intelligent, they often mean that computer programs coordinate many building subsystems to regulate the interior temperatures HVAC and providing power. The goal is usually to reduce the operating cost of the building while maintaining the desired environment for the occupants. Commercial-off-the-shelf Building Automation Systems (BAS) are available. A basic BAS saves energy by widening temperature ranges and reducing lighting in unoccupied spaces. A BAS also reduces costs for electricity by shedding loads when electricity is higher-priced. Often, a building can be designed so that air-conditioning and refrigeration can be deferred. HVAC (pronounced either H-V-A-C or, occasionally, H-VAK) is an initialism/acronym that stands for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning. This is sometimes referred to as climate control. ...

Because many subsystems contribute to the costs of operating a building, customized building automation can be complex. Some intelligent buildings:

• Manage thermal transmissions through windows or walls
• Anticipate forecasted weather, utility costs, or electrical demand.
• Learn and adapt to building occupants.
• Track individual occupants to adapt building systems to the individual's wants and needs (e.g. setting a room's temperature and lighting levels automatically when a homeowner enters)
• Detect and report faults in the mechanical and electrical systems, especially critical systems.

There are other, non-energy uses for automation in a building: In telecommunication, the term demand load has the following meanings: 1. ...

• Security
• Rent or consumables charges based on actual usage
• Giving directions within the building
• Customized lighting to meet different needs, or set moods.
• Scheduling preventive maintenance

See also

• Building automation
• KNX -- standard for Home and Building Control (developed by "Konnex Association"), truly open (no royalties for Konnex members), platform independent; guarantees multi-vendor and cross-discipline interoperability, ensured via certification and symbolized by the KNX trademark; supports many configuration methods (PC tools, device configurators and plug+play) and media (TP, PL, RF, Ethernet)
• BACnet -- One computer networking protocol used to implement networks within intelligent buildings
• LonWorks -- Another protocol