In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve savings in the government budget, The local government of the county of “Highlands” in Scotland has adopted a smart innovation that allows several indicators inside its buildings to be monitored remotely, such as temperatures, air quality, and humidity levels thus providing a more comfortable environment for users and controlling energy consumption and costs.
In 2019, the Scottish government launched a climate change plan that aims to gradually reduce Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions until they are zero by 2045 at the latest. Within this plan, The government has committed to working to eliminate carbon emissions generated by the government sector due to the importance of its role as a major provider and consumer of services and goods in the country. In light of the environmental plans developed by the country, Scottish local governments have launched several initiatives in this regard, These include the Highlands County government, which is seeking innovative solutions to help it reduce carbon emissions in its government buildings and achieve budget savings at the same time.
The most important challenge facing the Highlands government is that it is responsible for managing the many government buildings and infrastructure scattered over vast areas spanning about a third of the size of Scotland. Highlands is the largest locally-administered area in the UK. This distinctive geographical position of this area has consequences that negatively affect the effectiveness of the management of government buildings such as schools. nursing homes, entertainment centers, and offices of the local council and others. In this sense, Her local government has developed an innovative solution of transforming its government buildings into “smart buildings” to help it monitor the status of those properties smoothly and at low cost.
The main benefit of the government turning its buildings into “smart buildings” is the ability to monitor several indicators within those buildings to collect data and develop a comprehensive perception of their condition. These indicators include room temperature, humidity levels and quality ventilation to prevent frost damage during the winter or reduce rot caused by increased humidity. It is also the responsibility of the government to monitor energy consumption and lighting levels and to identify energy consumption patterns in each building and every room in it. In order to control heating and lighting, Thus reducing energy consumption when not in use. To monitor the air quality inside buildings and rooms, The government needs to measure carbon dioxide levels that also indicate the quality of ventilation. This played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Therefore, the provincial council directed to turn these remote buildings into “smart buildings”, To achieve two main objectives, namely to reduce the number of trips required to follow the condition of government buildings, and allow them to be monitored and controlled remotely, Through one central point. To this end, The Council concluded a cooperation agreement with the company “North”, It is one of the largest providers of Internet of Things services and solutions, For a £400,000 project, would achieve budget savings, Reduce the carbon footprint of remote government buildings.
Drawing on the Scottish National Internet of Things (ITN), partially funded by the Scottish Government, which is the most advanced network in the UK, North has deployed smart IoT-based sensors in all Highlands properties to collect data and gain visibility into building and room conditions. North provided the Council with a special data platform that receives and stores information from sensors. and photographed graphically, And present them to decision-makers.
The project allowed the Council to remotely measure carbon dioxide levels to monitor air quality inside buildings, rooms and classrooms. Considering that high levels of this gas negatively affect mental focus, Thus on productivity or educational attainment. New sensor technologies have also allowed to monitor the pattern of use of each building and every room in it. The local government was able to control remotely, More precisely and efficiently, In maintenance matters, such as heating and lighting, To ensure that systems are turned off when not in use, Thus saving energy consumption and money spent on utilities. Temperature and humidity sensors allowed the council to improve the environment inside buildings, and increasing the convenience of users, and prevent frost damage during the winter, And discover conditions that may cause dampness and mold.
The European Fund for Rural Development helped fund this project, in which the Highlands County Council found an opportunity to adopt IoT technologies. data-driven technologies, and the gradual reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, This paves the way for Scotland to meet its climate change commitments.
References:
https://www.gov.scot/policies/climate-change/decarbonisation-in-the-public-sector/
