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SPOTLIGHT/SMART LIGHTING

THE FACILITY MANAGER’S CHANGING ROLE:

GUARDIAN OF THE

BUILDING EXPERIENCE

TOM MYERS used over the course of the day, arming facility managers
Director Commercial Real Estate Solutions with information that helps improve the entire building
Lutron Electronics Company environment, boosts employee satisfaction and retention
and increases building value, all while continuing to save
NOT SO LONG AGO, energy use was a primary measure of energy and simplify building operations. For forward-
building performance. Facility managers are responsible thinking facility managers, expertise on smart systems
for the efficient operation of their buildings, and much and the IoT represents a huge and growing opportunity to
of their success revolved around managing the energy expand their role and enhance their value.
impact of building lighting and HVAC. The evolution of
smart LED lighting and control technologies is signifi- Because lighting – both electric light and daylight –
cantly reducing the energy impact of lighting and simulta- impacts every space in a building, smart IoT lighting and
neously enhancing the capabilities of lighting and shade shade control solutions can play a pivotal role in creating
solutions to impact commercial building performance. the right environment by enhancing comfort, efficiency,
and productivity throughout the space. The opportunity
for simple integration with other connected building
solutions, 3rd party systems, and even intelligent personal
assistants like Amazon Echo or Google Home is an
important consideration in system choice.

The changing face of ‘smart’ and the impact
of digital assistants
As more devices, systems, and services connect the
building network, the number of value added applications
and opportunities grows exponentially. Voice control
and digital assistants are certainly on the horizon for
commercial spaces, but these technologies are still most
prominent in the residential space. In most commercial
buildings smart lighting and shade control starts with
simple, scalable solutions that make it easy to install,
easy to integrate, and easy to collect and manage
Combined with the rapid growth of the Internet of building data.
Things (IoT), all this change is also redefining the
facility manager’s role. Previously focused primarily on Voice control is an aspect of the smart solutions
building energy and operations, today’s facility managers landscape currently finding its place in commercial
are becoming strategic partners in delivering a better buildings, likely targeted first to private offices,
experience for the people in the space and creating conference rooms, and spaces with a single or primary
greater value for building owners and tenants. occupant. Regardless of the specific platform, seamless
system integration is the priority. Smart technologies
If you think of commercial spaces becoming more like can have the greatest impact when they are intuitive
dynamic organisms, connected control systems can for the facility manager, and not intimidating to building
provide detailed information about how the building is occupants.

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