Journal of Engineering, Project, and Production Management, 2014, 4(1), 2-16
Intelligent Buildings: Key to Achieving Total Sustainability in the Built Environment
1PhD Student/Staff, Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, UK, E-mail: t.gadakari@wlv.ac.uk (corresponding author).
2Professor, Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, UK, E-mail: s.mushatat@wlv.ac.uk
3Professor, Department of Maths and Computer Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, UK, E-mail: r.newman@wlv.ac.uk
Engineering Management
Received May 31, 2013; received revision July 12, 2013; accepted July 27, 2013
Available online December 13, 2013
Abstract: ‘Are intelligent buildings a pragmatic approach towards achieving a sustainable built environment?’ is the research question that this review article aims to answer. It has been argued that there is a serious need for intelligent buildings to be evaluated against the parameters of total sustainability (environmental, economic and social) so as to help the agenda of living in a technologically advanced, healthy and comfortable world. This paper reviews existing theoretical concepts of intelligence and sustainability in the built environment, through an exploration of various scientific literature and U.S Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) databases. A systematic qualitative review approach has been employed to select an appropriate definition of sustainable development and use it as a theoretical framework to assess the technological impact of intelligent buildings on the environmental, economic and social front. Subsequently five case study buildings from around the world, which exemplify the use of intelligent technologies to achieve sustainable gains were chosen and analyzed to further validate the literature findings. Outputs from the study highlight the various benefits of intelligent buildings, which include decrease in energy and water consumption, operational costs, as well as increase in productivity and investments. Additionally the analysis of the case studies revealed that the use of intelligent building technologies has contributed significantly towards a higher sustainability rating on the LEED rating scale. Moreover, the comparison of the attributes of intelligent buildings and sustainable practices in buildings, illustrates the fact that there is a considerable overlap between the two and intelligence can aid sustainability in the built environment. Thus the research suggests that green technologies and intelligence in combination may be a pragmatic approach towards the sustainability aspect.
Keywords: Intelligent buildings, green buildings, smart buildings, innovative architecture, sustainability.
Copyright © Journal of Engineering, Project, and Production Management (EPPM-Journal).
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 Unported License.
Requests for reprints and permissions at eppm.journal@gmail.com.
Citation: Gadakari, T., Mushatat, S., and Newman, R. (2014). Intelligent Buildings: Key to Achieving Total Sustainability in the Built Environment. Journal of Engineering, Project, and Production Management, 4(1), 2-16.
DOI: 10.32738/JEPPM.201401.0002
Full text
