Traditionally, a building was viewed as a passive element of the workplace. Today, that has changed. A building is now recognized as a dynamic structure that supports the people and technologies working within its four walls. And with the cost of personnel comprising more than 80 percent of a typical organization's office expenses, a building that cannot meaningfully contribute to the productivity of workers and to the overall cost-effectiveness of an organization is a building few can afford.

To meet contemporary and future needs, a building must establish an environment that is hospitable to those who work within it as well as to the changing technologies on which their productivity relies. To maintain an intelligent building is to control operating costs through technology and improved services.

An intelligent building is one which provides a productive and cost-effective environment through optimization of its four basic elements structure, systems, services, and management and the interrelationship between them. Intelligent buildings help building owners, property managers, and occupants realize their goals in the areas of cost, comfort, convenience, safety, long-term flexibility, and marketability.

EMR can make improvements to your building's structure, including floor and roof load capacity, building envelope elements, daylighting and lighting quality, and acoustics; to its systems, ranging from lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) to life safety and security to electric power systems and energy monitoring and metering; to its services, including communications and maintenance; and to its management, including building and technology maintenance, facilities management, and energy management systems. EMR can optimize each of these four elements and the interrelationships between them to help your building become an intelligent building.

• Intelligent Building Technologies and Design
• Energy Efficient Building Systems and Equipment
• Building Automation Systems
• Information Management
• Systems Integration
• Communications Wiring Systems and Network Design
• Facilities Management
• Technology Maintenance
• Cable Inventory and Management

• Intelligent Buildings Definition
• Intelligent Buildings Study
• Building Communications
• Home Automation Systems: State of the Art
• Elevtrotechnologies for Intelligent Buildings
• Energy Management and Control Systems
• Wiring Intelligent Buildings

Intelligent Buildings Definition

EMR conducted comprehensive research to define the characteristics of intelligent buildings, the commonly used terms related to them, and the procedures used to analyze building suitability. The report describes the characteristics of an intelligent building as they relate to a building's structure, systems, management, and services. Also included are descriptions of intelligent buildings technologies for HVAC, lighting, electrical power, wiring distribution, communications, controls, access control, security, life safety, elevators and escalators, domestic hot water, and information management.

Intelligent Building Study

EMR conducted a comprehensive study of building owners, architects, engineers, and manufacturers to define the market potential for various intelligent building technologies and services in the commercial sector. The report analyzed various technologies to help define electrical contractor training, cost estimation procedures and capital investment requirements.

Building Communications

EMR prepared this comprehensive market research report of the current building communications market. The report discusses the variety of transmission media and wiring and distribution methods used in the design of communications wiring systems in an intelligent building. EMR researched the planning, management, and control techniques vital to installing a wiring system that supports a building over its lifetime in an easy and cost-effective manner. In addition to practical installation descriptions and diagrams of transmission, wiring, and distribution techniques, EMR also presented information on the unique requirements of local area networks and cable installation and testing.

Home Automation Systems: State of the Art

Integrated home automation systems are being designed to enable efficient and economical operation of systems and equipment in meeting occupant needs. EMR prepared this overview of microprocessors and other intelligent electronic devices that have data-processing and programming capabilities to perform several functions simultaneously. Information on available intelligent products, components, functions, communication standards, integrated systems, and wiring considerations for the "smart" house is presented.

Electrotechnologies for Intelligent Buildings

A variety of electrotechnologies are employed in intelligent buildings to enhance the efficiency and life-cycle cost-effectiveness of various building systems. EMR describes in detail electrotechnologies for intelligent buildings systems, including lighting, electric power and motor control, HVAC, fire and smoke management, security, and telecommunications.

Energy Management and Control Systems

EMR developed this comprehensive resource that identifies the different types of energy management and control systems (EMCS) available and their capabilities and applications. Several computer-based EMCS components are described, including central control unit, peripheral devices, field equipment, data transmission media and hardware, and software. Techniques for proper design and selection are presented to gain maximum benefit from the systems, as well as tips on performing a thorough economic analysis that considers more than energy consumption and conservation alone.

Wiring Intelligent Buildings

Buildings that are designed intelligently can support systems for voice, data, text, image, security, fire safety, HVAC, and more. EMR demonstrates how all of these systems can be integrated with each other on just a few or even one set of wires, eliminating unnecessary, space-consuming wires and related installation of current building systems. In this report, EMR explains the essential elements of an intelligent building's premises wiring system, from the types of wires used to vendor-specific distribution plans.

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