Improving people’s wellbeing with sensors and IoT solutions

Our performance at work, university or school depends on our physical wellbeing among others. In indoor spaces such as offices, classrooms or lecture halls, it is therefore important to create optimal conditions. Battery-free and wireless products as well as IoT-based solutions from EnOcean help to optimize temperature, humidity and CO₂ levels in such rooms.

Intelligently improve productivity in workspaces and meeting rooms

Even though the trend towards working from home continues unabated, people still spend most of their working time in offices. Numerous conditions influence performance, especially in open-plan offices and meeting rooms. Noise, temperature levels that are too high or too low, a lack of oxygen and, above all, an excessively high CO₂ concentration reduce the focus and alertness of those present. As a result of sub-optimal indoor air conditions, people become more tired, feel unwell and productivity decreases. According to studies, by up to 50%. Employers are therefore faced with the challenge of creating an optimized working environment for their staff. For example, by installing air quality sensors in the relevant rooms with a corresponding CO₂ level display.

green = OK

yellow = windows should be opened

red = windows must be opened

Furthermore, progress should be saved and visualized over a certain period to define further optimization measures if necessary. Examples are better adapted room sizes or automated room ventilation.

EnOcean ‘Smart Spaces‘ solutions enable employers to automatically monitor and control the temperature in workspaces and meeting rooms in compliance with European laws. Battery-free and wireless activity and motion sensors based on energy harvesting technology are used for intelligent room design. They help to introduce intelligent booking systems with which rooms or workstations can be booked electronically as part of desk sharing. EnOcean sensors help to monitor environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity or CO₂ level. They provide information on whether and how many employees are present or whether doors and windows are open or closed. The sensor data obtained is visualized in a dashboard. It can even automatically improve the wellbeing of employees when connected to a suitable control system.

EnOcean and IBM have already developed a sensor-based solution for smart spaces that utilizes the potential of IoT in 2021. This solution analyzes the effects of changes in environmental conditions in work and meeting rooms over the course of the day and automates adjustments. These sensor- and IoT-based solutions help people feel better and become more productive.

Wellbeing for teachers and students

Wellbeing and productivity of teachers, students and pupils at universities and schools can also be improved. For example, the entire lighting infrastructure at colleges in San Bernadino (California) has been modernized. Using daylight sensors as well as motion and presence detectors, LED luminaires in use automatically control the light in classrooms and offices. In addition to improving the wellbeing and productivity of everyone, energy consumption and CO₂ emissions have also been reduced. The investment paid for itself in a very short time. Operating costs were significantly reduced, partly due to the elimination of battery replacement costs and a short installation time.

Intelligent solutions that go beyond indoor spaces

An application for vacation parks in the Netherlands shows that these ‘smart spaces’ solutions go far beyond offices and workspaces. The battery-free activity and motion sensors from the EnOcean installed in the vacation homes were linked to the booking system. Before the guests arrive, the heating and boiler are automatically switched on to create a ‘cozy atmosphere‘ in the homes.