IoT-enabled Technologies - A SMART Path to Progress

Leaders of public institutions—from the hospital director to the city mayor—face many challenges. Funding restrictions, bloated budgets, rising expenses (in utilities and other areas), and soaring public expectations can make it seem like you’re being asked to do more with less. It’s why many public stewards like you may wonder if “progress” is actually possible in your institution and whether you can actually make a difference for those you serve.

We absolutely relate to those concerns. (After all, we’re taxpayers ourselves, and we share a vested interest in the status of our schools, universities, hospitals, and overall cities.) We also absolutely believe that the solution to most (if not all) of your challenges begins with first tackling the “utility cost problem.” If your institution were to convert to a smart, IoT-based LED lighting and control system, you would save thousands of taxpayer dollars every year on utilities (and potentially millions over the 10-15-year system lifespan). With those extra resources available to you, you can then put them to work in other areas of concern (like hiring additional office personnel to cut down on hospital wait times or fixing potholes along your main roads). Sounds great, right? Why would any leader hesitate to learn more about these opportunities to revolutionize his/her community?

“SMART IoT-enabled technologies can be daunting”

Well, sometimes, when we meet with institutional leaders, we find that some of them are a little nervous about “smart” technologies and where to start. After all, society and technology has changed so much the past few years that, in many cases, we can feel overwhelmed by new advancements that we don’t quite fully understand to date. As such, we may simply choose to ignore (or oppose) the new and unfamiliar just because it’s an easier and more comfortable path to take.

A Smarter Way to Overcome Obstacles

Truthfully, a smart IoT-based LED lighting and control system isn’t beyond the realm of comprehension. (If we can understand its basic principles, then you can understand it. We promise!) To put things simply, a smart control system is made up of a variety of nodes that do different things and enable greater efficiencies.…like wirelessly controlling your university’s gymnasium or cafeteria lights. This system uses programmable sensors that can align specifically to your needs, thereby eliminating waste. That’s it in a nutshell!

Currently, the vast majority of the nation’s commercial buildings use outdated fluorescent or high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps. These lighting technologies are far more expensive than LED luminaires, they require more maintenance (and in turn have higher maintenance costs), they don’t last nearly as long, and they consume much more energy. Upgrading to a smarter, IoT-based LED control system can slash your utility bills up to 75% immediately, as well as your maintenance costs throughout the course of the system’s lifetime. Add in federal and state government and utility company buybacks and rebates, and the savings can be astronomical. (Plus, with a “smarter” infrastructure in place, you can connect your HVAC operations to it and realize even more savings and build more comprehensive Internet of Things applications in the future.)

Progress and Stewardship:

It’s not a stretch to say that many institutional leaders find themselves at significant junctures. If you’re open to change, embracing new technologies that will bring your community into the digital age, and want to be a more responsible steward, then the SBT Alliance is the right partner for you. Learn more about how smarter control technologies and IoT-based solutions can transform your schools, your universities, your hospitals, and your city’s buildings by visiting our online hub specifically catered to the public institutions that provide the backbone for our lives.