| The notion of buildings or homes having a "brain" | | | | This can mean controlling thermal transmissions |
| where it actually adjusts and responds to the | | | | through windows and walls and better indoor air |
| people living in them was actually proposed in the | | | | quality. |
| 1920s by pioneering modernist architect Le | | | | . Anticipate utility costs and electrical demand. This |
| Corbusier. The definition of a smart building or an | | | | also makes use of technology that "predicts" the |
| intelligent home has always been changing | | | | weather. |
| depending on the available technology of that time | | | | . Adjust to the needs of building occupants by |
| and the environment where it is to be | | | | "learning". This fuzzy logic system can learn the |
| implemented so, every time new technology is | | | | habits and behavior of occupants so that it can, |
| introduced, you can count on the fact that the | | | | for example, turn on the air conditioner to the |
| definition of a smart building or intelligent building | | | | desired temperature, turn on the lights and turn |
| will change. | | | | on the TV to the desired channel when the home |
| In the 70s, a smart building was one that | | | | owner arrives. |
| incorporated energy efficiency in its design. The | | | | . Monitor and detect critical systems of the building |
| 80s saw the rapid growth of personal computers | | | | including intelligent materials' performance and |
| and this greatly influenced the definition of a | | | | condition. This is also sometimes referred to as |
| smart building, where everything and anything can | | | | the nervous system of a smart building or |
| be controlled by the home computer, even from | | | | intelligent home. A smart building can sense |
| a remote location. From the 90s to the present, a | | | | seismic and structural integrity and do "predictive" |
| smart building incorporates the 80s and 70s | | | | maintenance. |
| definition of energy efficiency and total | | | | There are also non-energy uses for automation in |
| management of a building plus incorporating | | | | a smart building, like: |
| technology that also maximizes the efficiency of | | | | . Tighter Security |
| its occupants. | | | | . Giving directions in a building |
| Current works defining a smart building | | | | More complex subsystems include schemes that |
| concentrates on multiple subsystems - | | | | has sensors keeping tabs on anything and |
| environment control, telecommunications, power | | | | everything that can be monitored - mechanically, |
| and new materials from manufacturers described | | | | optically, chemically, magnetically, thermally, or |
| as "intelligent. All of these subsystems converge | | | | even acoustically. And with today's wireless |
| to attain the common goal of reducing the | | | | technology, more and more of these systems |
| operating cost of a building but still maintaining | | | | are linked wirelessly, making the actual |
| maximum efficiency for the occupants, which | | | | implementation elegant and simple, a characteristic |
| includes the desired internal environment. | | | | that Architects and Engineers love. |
| Since all of these subsystems contribute to the | | | | Also, a lot of commercial off-the-shelf information |
| cost of operation of a building, integration of these | | | | technology systems are used in the |
| diverse technology to create a customized building | | | | implementation of a smart building. All the |
| automation is very complex. Several of these | | | | incompatibilities, inconsistencies and vulnerabilities of |
| smart buildings or intelligent homes control the | | | | these commercial products also factor in into the |
| following factors: . Manage indoor environment | | | | complexity of a smart building. |