Low Power IoT Meets the

Needs of Home Automation

and Smart Buildings
By M. Di Paolo Emilio
Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing the way we live and
work. Besides applications in industry, IoT is having a massive
impact on the house and the building we live in. Connected
solutions enable the use of smart low power devices, helping
us to reduce energy consumption, to be protected by advanced
security and surveillance systems and to implement a predictive
and more efficient type of maintenance. Because of the
substantial benefits it can bring to both individual users and the
entire community; the smart building market is expected to grow
strongly in the coming years. This improvement is guaranteed by
greater energy efficiency, intelligent internal mobility and greater
respect for the environment, thanks to the use of advanced
sensors and the implementation of IoT technologies, clouds, and
mobile systems. Smart building approach is necessary because
it aims to improve the quality of life in domestic and work
environments, through the integration of digital technologies
and building automation. Smart building, as well as smart
facility management, allow the maximum comfort for guests
with the least possible environmental impact. This article will
be focused on how IoT low-power solutions can make our homes
and buildings smarter, improving the quality of our lives.
IoT Solutions Empower Building
Performance and Owner Experience
Smart building aims to improve energy efficiency in buildings,
through the management, monitoring, and supervision of the
plants. In a smart building, the operations of management and use
of all the assets are economically efficient and guarantee optimal
services. The main objectives are the following: reduction of the
environmental impact, simplification of the structure management,
possibility of remote control and increase in safety. Smart Building
and IoT (Internet of Things) are two closely linked technologies.
Low Power IoT Meets the Needs of Home Automation and Smart Buildings 2
IoT allows us to create a network in which all the objects of the
building are connected and communicate data, in real time,
on what happens inside it. Thanks to IoT technology and the
availability of information on the cloud, it is possible to access the
smart building anywhere, at any time and with any device. Smart
energy solutions can be applied to all energy plants (electrical,
hydraulic, gas, HVAC, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) and
are usually based on a wireless low-power communication system.
The technological solution involves the use of multiple sensors
(temperature, humidity, light, air quality), energy consumption
meters, a gateway for data transmission to a remote network
server and an appropriate management software, for accessing
Figure 1: Block diagram for Murata's CMWX1ZZABZ-078 LoRa module [Source: Avnet]
from any device real-time and historical data on the cloud and for
allowing remote control of the system. LoRaWAN standard offers
an excellent network solution in this context. It covers long-range
communication (up to 10 km in extra-urban areas), is a radio low-
power solution (sensor batteries can last up to 10 years), is based
on an encrypted protocol and has low maintenance costs. Murata,
one of the world’s leading manufacturers of wireless modules, has
developed the CMWX1ZZABZ-078, a stand-alone low-power device
that is one of the world’s smallest solutions for adding LoRa-based
wireless connectivity to a range of products and applications for
the IoT communications (Figure 1).
Engineering a Safe Smart Home
Security aspects are fundamental. Everyone wants to feel safe
and secure in their own home, protecting the occupants' safety
and the value of the assets they guard. IoT technology provides
authentication solutions for opening access and cutting-edge anti-
intrusion solutions that can be easily integrated with traditional
security systems. Security networks, based on sensors with
long-lasting batteries and not easily tampered with, are capable
of triggering alarms, sirens, video cameras or even alerting the
police. Information and alarms can be notified to and managed,
in real time, by mobile devices or centralized software in the cloud.
Anti-intrusion sensors also allow monitoring of the building doors,
Low Power IoT Meets the Needs of Home Automation and Smart Buildings 3
avoiding energy waste and heat losses. Video surveillance and
video analysis are key features, as well. A technologically advanced
video surveillance system ensures a better security. Advanced
sensors, which are capable of capturing movement and operating
in any light conditions, can capture high-resolution images and
Figure 2: AmbiMate sensor module development kit [Source: Avnet]
process them using sophisticated video analysis algorithms, a
key piece of modern IoT technology. Cameras are interconnected
and converge in a centralized operating platform, where all the
acquired information is processed. Collected data is aggregated and
processed, making it possible to move from a reactive management
logic to a proactive one. To ensure high safety, a smart home should
also include fire, gas and smoke detection solutions. AmbiMate
sensor module development kit allows engineers to develop and
test IoT application based on MS4 series quickly, an application
specific set of sensors on a ready to attach PCB assembly for easy
integration into a host product. MS4 series include motion, light,
temperature, humidity, as well as VOC (Volatile Organic Compound),
eCO2 (equivalent carbon dioxide) and sound detection sensors
(Figure 2).
Best Energy Applications for Smart Home
Smart home solutions should not only make our home more
comfortable, efficient and modern but above all, they should also
be favorable from an economic point of view. Smart thermostats
are the first application we can think of. Reliable studies have shown
that the only use of a smart thermostat, that is able to maintain the
temperature and humidity of the rooms at optimal levels, can reduce
energy consumption by 10%. Another smart device that is gradually
entering our homes is represented by water, gas, and electricity
Low Power IoT Meets the Needs of Home Automation and Smart Buildings 4
smart meters. While on the one hand, they help to reduce energy
consumption, giving customers greater awareness, on the other,
they are also more reliable and safer thanks to the remote-control
functionality. Since water is today a precious asset, it is advisable to
use smart sensors that are able to detect any water leaks, advising us
in the event of flooding or abnormal humidity levels. Finally, we have
the smart weather stations, today able to integrate the detection of
numerous environmental parameters: temperature, humidity, wind
and rain intensity and even the ultra-violet (UV) radiation index.
Conclusion
Low power IoT devices are enabling advanced, efficient and eco-
friendly solutions in smart building and smart home applications.
Homeowners and tenants are provided with security, comfort,
convenience and energy efficiency, allowing them to remotely
control smart devices by an app on their smartphone or other
connected devices.
Low Power IoT Meets the Needs of Home Automation and Smart Buildings 5