Whitepapers

"When a building owner has a knowledgeable third party evaluate their assessment data, they have confidence that the result can be used to benchmark their space against others. And whether using the Sustaina- bility Assessor or SPIRE assessment tool, the evaluation of sustainability goes beyond energy efficiency and waste, looking at everything from tenant engagement, to whether concepts of circular economy are being leveraged in the design process, ensuring that a building can evolve over time. As these certifications are more widely deployed, they will accelerate the implementation of smart technologies, which will have a significant positive impact on end user experience." - Ken Koffman, TIA While these certifications create awareness and fulfill green building criteria, they have not had as strong of an impact as most proponents of sustainable smart buildings would like. Many of these certifications also focus primarily on the conventional concept of "green" buildings rather than taking a more holistic approach. Another challenge with some certifications is that adoption varies from region to region, due to the origin of the certification, culture, and government influence. In areas of Europe for example, a LEED or BREEAM certified building enables real estate companies to apply for bonds and incentives such as reduced interest rates, which provides significant savings. In other regions where government grants or subsidies are available, develo- pers may focus on those incentives rather than opting for non-govern- ment-based certifications. To thoroughly address environmental issues on a global scale, smart building experts see the value in harmonizing certifications and cross pollinating the best practices from different regions, thereby suppor- ting those regions that have not yet reached maturity. The need for harmonization and a broader more holistic approach to sustainability are key driving factors behind the development of TIA UL's SPIRE Smart Building Assessment and Rating Program. Existing certifications like LEED, BREEAM, and others are brought into the fold as part of the sustainability criteria of the assessment, but the SPIRE program takes a much broader approach to also consider connectivity, health and wellbeing, life and property safety, power and energy, and cybersecurity. Based on measurable data, these six criteria together consider the planet, the people, and the profit of a sustainable smart building. Using an objective, evidence-based assessment framework based on data, organizations have a complete smart building eva- luation and can earn a UL Smart Building Verified Mark, plaque, and building performance rating. "Organizations collaborating more closely could go beyond regio- nal goals, sustainability metrics, certifications, or evaluation tools. It could take years, but once we have global harmonization, it will be easier for different regions to start adapting and get on the right path towards sustainability. Otherwise, we risk having different levels and niches of sustainability that are solely based on the existing compe- tencies and capabilities of various regions." - Salla Palos, Microsoft It is not just whole-building certifications that deliver value. Device certi- fications also play a critical role in ensuring that a building can effectively support and collect data from IoT devices and sensors. For example, several mobile carriers certify modules, chipsets, or devices for their 5G service, and organizations like the Ethernet Alliance certify devices for PoE to ensure interoperability and compliance with industry PoE stan- dards. Microsoft certifies IoT devices to ensure they can connect with their Azure IoT Hub, and the LoRaWAN Certification Program provides assurance to end customers that their application-specific end devices will operate on any LoRaWAN® network. Certified devices provide end-users with confidence that the device is reliable and compliant with the LoRaWAN specification, allows manufacturers to carry the LoRaWAN CertifiedCM mark, and ensures proper operation. Role of Codes and Regulations While certification programs offer significant value, they are optional, unlike codes and regulations. Building codes and regulations are of- ten at the very base level of sustainability with minimum requirements, but with an increased focus on climate change, most industry experts believe that will shift as the regulatory requirements catch up with the markets and legislation is introduced. Codes and regulations also vary from region to region based on culture, market status, and other factors. While regulatory bodies in Europe are primarily interested in safety and privacy for example, others may focus more on energy consumption or the impact of wireless communica- tion frequencies. Codes and regulations can even vary from city to city where authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) have different requirements and varying concerns around sustainability and the environment. "Regulatory bodies are often not able to react as fast as the market due to emerging technologies that are continuing to flood the mar- ket. While we need regulations, the competition we're seeing in the market will drive sustainability much faster than regulations." - Julio De Jesus Flores, iQor As regional markets focus more on smart building concepts, some AHJs may begin to focus on carbon emissions and adopt smart buil- ding requirements, which can help encourage a sustainable smart building approach in regions where it has been lacking. In markets where sustainable smart buildings are becoming the norm, real estate organizations are working closely with the public sector to push for ways to bring focus to sustainability into local laws and regulations. www.lora-alliance.org p.10

• Cover