Retrofitting a 40-Year-Old BaoLan Complex Building with RAK’s IoT and LoRaWAN® for Energy Efficiency
| Quick Look Use Case Summary | |
|---|---|
| Principal Emphasis | IoT Insight |
| Battery Longevity | Years of use without replacements |
| Industry | Smart Building |
| Sub-Industry | Energy Efficiency |
| Deployment Area | Urban, Dense Indoor Environment |
| Deployment Scale | Enterprise |
| IoT Product(s) Used | WisGate Connect, Bridge IO, and Programmable Controllers |
Highlights
This use case discusses how Internet of Things (IoT) technology can retrofit old buildings for improved energy efficiency by avoiding costly structural changes. The BaoLan Complex building in China serves as a compelling example as it demonstrates how IoT can achieve net-zero energy goals by optimizing energy usage in real time. This approach improves air quality and reduces energy waste. Using RAKwireless IoT products and LoRaWAN technology, both old and new buildings can efficiently optimize energy use and reduce costs without costly renovations and complex wiring.
Company profile
The 40-year-old BaoLan Complex Building in China is undergoing a significant retrofit to align with modern energy and environmental standards. It requires the latest climate-control technologies to improve the overall building performance and minimize environmental impact. The goal is to achieve a net-zero energy status so the building generates as much renewable energy as it consumes annually.
Main Objectives:
- Save Energy: Minimize rising energy costs with smart conservation strategies
- Comfortable Environment: Efficiency is great but people's comfort still comes first
- Improve Air Quality: A healthier space means happier and more productive people
- Monitor Everything: Stay on top of comfort, lighting, and noise levels to run all the systems smoothly
Problem Statement
- Many old buildings consume excessive energy, lack automation, and provide no real-time insights into air quality, temperature control, and energy waste. They cause pollution and have an unpleasant living environment.
- Rising utility bills, unpredictable maintenance, and inefficient heating and cooling systems are daily challenges for businesses in older buildings.
- A concern for environmental consciousness is growing across companies. Governments and industries are facing a growing pressure to cut carbon emissions and reduce energy consumption.
Location
Hongkong, China
Solution
Despite being over forty years old, the BaoLan Complex building in China aims to balance the total energy it uses with the renewable energy it generates.
But the question is,
How Will They Achieve This?
The answer lies in the power of IoT. The smart network of sensors, controllers, and gateways collects data to make real-time decisions. IoT is the best option for transforming old building sites as it works with existing infrastructure and doesn’t require expensive structural changes. Let’s discuss how LoRaWAN connectivity and the latest RAKwireless solutions can help buildings save energy with the power of IoT.
LoRaWAN Long Range Wide Area Network is commonly used in the Internet of Things (IoT). It works great in large areas where networks like Wi-Fi or cellular usually struggle to keep a signal, and removes dependency on high-overhead cellular networks. LoRaWAN helps older buildings become smarter with IoT in the following ways.
- LoRaWAN is very easy to set up and links all your devices together without expensive and messy wiring.
- While Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have limited ranges, LoRaWAN can transmit data over several kilometers.
- LoRaWAN uses little power and helps devices run for years on just one battery.
- LoRaWAN also cuts down on costs. Building managers can now deploy a large number of sensors without requiring cellular communication infrastructures.
Therefore, LoRaWAN is an appealing option for businesses that want to create smart and connected environments with manageable costs. However, there is a problem with LoRaWAN.
What’s the point of collecting all this IoT data?
What do we do with it?
Think of LoRaWAN as a messenger. It delivers information across long distances but doesn’t decide what to do with it. On its own, LoRaWAN doesn’t take action, it simply transmits data. So, how do you actually use that data to make ‘real-time decisions’?
Sensors can tell you the temperature in a room, but how will you decide whether to turn the AC up or down? LoRaWAN alone doesn’t have the control logic needed for such tasks. That’s where intelligence comes in. We need a central brain that can pull together data from various sensors, connect it to the cloud, interpret it, and take action when required.
RAKwireless products convert raw IoT data into real-world action, just like we need. Instead of just knowing the temperature in a room, the system can adjust the HVAC automatically to maintain the perfect climate. Instead of just detecting whether lights are on, it can turn them off when they are not needed. Eventually, that’s what we all aspire for our smart buildings to be.
The advanced RAKwireless products that brought the ultimate solution for BaoLan Complex Building’s energy conservation automation system. Let’s go over them one by one:
WisGate Connect is the central hub that brings different communication protocols like LoRaWAN, BACnet/IP, Modbus, KNX, and MQTT together. It guarantees that HVAC, lighting, and energy meters work in sync and also gives remote access and control through cloud connectivity.
Once your building collects and processes data, you need a way to act on it. Bridge IO and RAK’s programmable controllers allow you to automate HVAC, lighting, and ventilation. You can even set up custom control logic according to your requirements, which means less manual work and way better energy efficiency.
With these tools, you gather all the information and turn it into smart automation that saves time, energy, and costs.
Outcome
Here is what the BaoLan Complex Building achieved without the hassle of rewiring, without disruptions, and without facing big costs:
| Benefits of the BaoLan Complex Building Retrofitt | |
|---|---|
| Ease of Installation | Plug-and-play devices resulted in time and cost savings |
| Battery Longevity | Years of use without replacements |
| Wireless Flexibility | Installed devices where wiring was impossible |
| Signal Penetration | Strong signal transmission through thick walls |
| Scalability | Ready to scale as the building expands |
| Custom Logic | Customized automation for HVAC and lighting |
IoT makes everyday objects smart by enabling them to collect data, communicate, and respond intelligently. It transforms spaces from static and inefficient to responsive and cost-effective environments. Modernize your building without complicated rewiring, construction crews, or high costs. RAKwireless offers a smooth way to bring IoT-powered intelligence to even the oldest structures, just like we did at the BaoLan Complex Building in China.
Getting Started
Let’s create smarter spaces together! Reach out to our team, and we’ll help you have your first custom retrofit plan.
