All buildings use energy for key functions, from HVAC to lighting and security. How efficiently a building uses it depends on its building automation system—the network of controls that connects and automates these key functions. Done well, a building automation system can make a building truly intelligent, reducing its carbon footprint and saving money.

Imagine you work in an office and are the first to arrive. With a swipe of your key card you unlock the door and set a chain of actions in motion. Because the building automation system knows who you are and where your workspace is, it lights your route, opens your window shutters, and adjusts the temperature to your preferred setting. As your colleagues arrive and fill the office, a rise in CO₂ levels triggers the ventilation, keeping everyone healthy and productive. 

For this synergy to happen, many devices need to work together:

• Sensors collect data, like temperature and humidity.
• Controllers process that data and act on it based on their programming.
• Actuators carry out the controllers' commands (turning on lights, increasing ventilation).

How do these devices communicate? 

Reliable Controls products use BACnet, a standard communication protocol developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

To interact with the building automation system, facility operators can choose their preferred user interface:

• Screens on a sensor—operators can make simple adjustments using a menu.
• A phone, tablet, or laptop connected to the internet from anywhere in the world.
• A local computer connected directly to the controller or through a local network.

Did you know our LEED Platinum–certified headquarters in Victoria, BC, consumes 82 percent less energy than a typical commercial building in Canada? Our state-of-the-art building automation system helped us achieve this remarkable target. Learn more about our commitment to sustainability and how we can help you achieve yours.

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