We are at a point in time when everything from TVs to watches, speakers, lights and more is being labelled as ‘smart’. Buildings and cities are no exception and it’s easy to see why smart cities are becoming the norm, especially when you consider the potential economic benefits at stake. Glasgow’s Future City project, for example, reported an impressive return of £144 million on an initial investment of £24 million after just four years. There’s a host of other UK cities investing in smart projects too, including Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Hull, Manchester and London.
But what exactly makes a smart building smart? At its core, ‘smart’ refers to technology that can automate functions, collect data and analyse it, all in the name of running a more efficient building. It comes under IoT – or Internet of Things – and is generally connected to other devices or networks.
According to Statista, the market for smart homes is projected to reach almost £10bn...