HVAC and dreams of integration: how did we arrive at today's contenders for building connectivity? - Cover Story

Engineered Systems, August, 2003 by Anto Budiardjo

By taking a proactive approach, the HVAC industry can play a very significant role in defining how the buildings of tomorrow are designed and constructed. HVAC systems affect almost all areas of a building and can significantly impact other building systems such as life safety, lighting, IT, and communication equipment.

The difference between the two approaches above depends on the HVAC industry's acceptance of the fact that the future of integrated, intelligent, and advanced buildings is an unquestionable reality.

WHEN WILL THE DREAM BECOME REALITY?

One day, the dream outlined at the beginning of this article will come true. There is absolutely no doubt about that. The only questions are when, how, and by whom will such systems be delivered?

The HVAC industry is further along in understanding the intelligent building than any other discipline in the building system field. The security industry is totally focused on security; the life safety industry is similarly (and understandably) focused on protecting lives; and the lighting industry is more concerned about the aesthetics of illumination, while other industries found in buildings are relatively small compared with HVAC. This leaves only the IT industry, which is always looking for ways to expand its empire!

So will the HVAC industry be subservient to the IT departments of the future? Only time will tell.

Budiardjo is the president of Clasma, Inc., a marketing and event planning company whose primary focus is providing professional services to the full spectrum of the building systems industry. Clasma produces the BuilConn Forum, a four-day event uniting consultants, integrators, distributors, manufacturers, and technologists from the disparate disciplines of the building systems industry to learn about and discuss the trends, technologies, and their applications for tomorrow's "intelligent" buildings. Reach him at antob@clasma.com.