Energetica India 89 - May 2020

SMART CITIES Smart Cities & HVAC: Technologies for A More Livable Future As per a TERI report, optimization of operation and management can save 20% to 30% of building energy con- sumption without changing the system structure or hardware configuration. Within this approach, variable speed drive chillers, home automation control systems, and adaptive fuzzy comfort controllers are latest focus of HVAC systems’ efforts. India is on its journey of being a digital led nation to help its citizens lead a better life, propel businesses with competitive advantage and power health care and farming sectors with predictive analysis for better efficiency. Recent economic developments and job creation has led to a significant migration towards urban cities. In India, about 450 million of 1.2 billion citizens migrated within the coun- try as per Census 2011 data. Increasing migration and infrastructural challenges have prompted the government to build smart cities for a decent quality life for citizens backed by smart solutions and technologies. The government of India announced its smart city mission nearly 5 years back with an objective of a sustainable way of living and access to better citizen services. With India’s urban population forecasted at a growth rate of 57.7 % from 31.6% by 2050, there will be further implications on energy consumption pat- terns and subsequent GHGs emissions as per United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2018. This makes it essential to fast track the smart city projects. Pilot projects and implementation of smart technologies at various spaces, especially in developed economies have already proved their efficiency with a low carbon footprint and better energy effi - ciency-HVACs have one of the key tools in this journey. Like other types of smart building technologies, smart HVAC uses sensors that integrate with the building automation system. These sensors collect data about the conditions throughout the building. Other specialized HVAC equipment provides the ability to fine- tune temperature, humidity, and airflow in various zones (based on data from the sensors) to optimize comfort while reducing energy consumption. As per a TERI report, optimization of operation and management can save 20% to 30% of building energy consumption without changing the system structure or hard- ware configuration. Withinthis approach, variable speed drive chillers, home au- tomation control systems, and adaptive fuzzy comfort controllers are latest focus of HVAC systems’ efforts. The government in its solar mission guide- lines has emphasized that 80% of the buildings in the smart cities need to be energy-efficient with a ‘green building’ design.With buildings creating 33 percent of greenhouse gas emissions globally, a smart city planning is essential for build- ing block. While designing a high-perfor- mance building, it is imperative to have a data-driven, technology-enabled and energy efficient HVAC system to reduce carbon emission and cost savings. Some of the HVAC systems can help save up to 62% in energy costs. For commercial areas like retail, health- care, hospitality, commercial, educational institutions etc, there are already ad- vanced systemslike smart energy meter with compact design that can easily pro- vide 26% better efficiency and up to 30% saving of space. These smart meters are also reducing the workload on facilities staff and providing better conditions for the employees. Some of the new HVAC systems boosts significant performance and energy sav - ings through precise temperature control for a stable and comfortable environment. The advanced technology helps make the compressor run more smoothly with lesser noise and more efficiency and has wide operating range that is appli- cable for different regions with different climates. The performance is upgraded substantially to improve the system’s self-adaptive adjusting capacity. In India’s road to success towards smart cities, HVACs will play a key role with agreat deal of benefits attached to them. These HVACs have become an integral part of the success stories of the smart city model, adopted by other countries and is bound to play a key role in India as well. 33 energetica INDIA- May_2020 Kishor Patil Country Head-Trane HVAC Business India & SAARC Markets