Insights

The promise of automation has always been that machines can take over the work we do as humans. While we are not quite at the sci-fi stage of autonomous buildings, many Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems now integrate a sophisticated Building Management System (BMS). These systems can take care of a range of…

For anyone managing a building, change is inevitable. Building usage might change, such as office spaces repurposed for educational purposes. Tenants can change, bringing with them new requirements. Or the manufacturing process within a factory can change. All three examples mean rethinking the HVAC system that is currently in place, especially for a solution that’s…

Innovation is a popular buzzword in business but is often just used to mean ‘putting in something new’. When a building owner is faced with the need to upgrade or replace their HVAC systems, they will often be pitched an ‘innovative’ solution – but does it meet their true needs? In their eagerness to specify…

Like any part of a building, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) have a finite lifespan. But upgrading the HVAC plant is often low on the priority list, below cosmetic changes or interior refits that appeal to current or potential tenants. While it’s not as instantly appealing as a paint job and new floor…

Ever started to get sick on a Monday, suffered all week, then found yourself bouncing back on the weekend? Or seen the same in your employees or co-workers? Jokes about ‘being sick of work’ aside, there can be a very real reason for these workplace blues. Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is a recognised condition where…

If you have a 20-year-old car, you can keep it running for a long time by replacing parts as they fail and keeping it serviced. But it is never going to be a brand-new car, with all the advances in fuel efficiency, comfort and performance that entails. A 20-year-old car was designed with the knowledge…

We don’t always think of people in mechanical terms. But our bodies are essentially a complex system, engineered to perform under a range of conditions. What makes the human system remarkable is that it can generally keep functioning as long as there is sufficient oxygen and a temperature that sits within a certain range. We…

There is nothing new about flexible work hours, teleconferencing, hot desking and working from home. They have existed for years as possible ways to work but have never fully joined the mainstream for most modern businesses. But then COVID-19 happened. Since early 2020, work norms all over the world have been flipped on their heads….