Creating the Backbone for Your Smart Building

The world continues to experience a large growth in the pace of technological upgrades and digital transformation. As a result, organizations have new opportunities for the improvement of the quality, sustainability and efficiency of where we live / work and the infrastructure that defines those spaces

While the concept of the smart building has existed for many years, the technology needed to make the idea of smart buildings practical is now better than ever. Today, smart buildings use automated processes, including Power over Ethernet (PoE), to control their operations, including heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting and security systems. This infrastructure helps building owners and operators improve asset reliability and performance, which reduces energy use, optimizes space improves utilization and minimizes the environmental impact of buildings.

In the past, common usage of PoE consumption was for telecom, as a driver of the phone systems. Older versions of PoE, from 15 years ago, could only generate limited power. The technology has improved and it is starting to show up in more places. In a recent State of the Industry survey, LEDs Magazine found 33% of participants indicated that they had worked with PoE to power luminaires. And in response to another forward-looking question, nearly one-third of survey respondents said they anticipate PoE replacing legacy AC/DC technology as a power supply or driver technology.

Now PoE lighting solutions are the biggest driver for adoption. Five years ago, when one watt of power from the PoE system was sent to a fixture, users would get a brightness level of about 100 lumens, which translated to a dim output for one watt. Now that efficiency has improved over time, in addition to lighting, new PoE systems have new use cases including security systems. PoE can send enough power out on a circuit that a company can operate a handheld, zoom security camera. Other companies, such as hotels, are also exploring options to reduce the number of AC outlets in a room and instead increase the number of PoE outlets to charge phones or operate a TV, all without using AC power.

Building on strong relationships with data center, industrial, education and healthcare customers, Molex provides the technical expertise to help customers overcome operational challenges as well as explore possible PoE solutions. With deep industry knowledge, we can help you meet all the present and future demands of your high-density infrastructure.

To discuss the latest on smart buildings, adoption of PoE and future ready infrastructure, Molex SME Lauren Straub recently spoke with Mission Critical Magazine’s Amy Al-Katib. Click here to hear the full interview on an episode of the publication’s Though Cloud Podcast.