Diving into an ocean of IoT eco-impacts

The Internet of Things (IoT) is no longer a futuristic idea. Currently, there are ca. 17 billion connected IoT devices worldwide, and their number is projected to double over the next 5 years. This blog will cover real-world IoT applications across three key sectors: construction, agriculture, and manufacturing.

A smarter way to manage our buildings

Using more eco-friendly construction materials reduces the so-called embodied carbon of buildings. On the other hand, other innovations are needed to demolish buildings’ operational carbon emissions.

Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration systems (HVAC or HVACR) account for up to 60% of the energy consumed by commercial buildings. For this reason, a more efficient HVAC’s energy management is paramount to slash construction’s carbon footprint.

To achieve this, project developers are harnessing a powerful combo: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IoT. In a truly smart building, an AI-assisted HVAC system is connected to IoT sensors. Thanks to this clever architecture, building managers can continuously and automatically gather useful insights such as room occupancy, temperature, humidity, etc.

When receiving this intel, an AI-enhanced tool will turn it into actions (e.g., switching off the HVAC in a meeting room between 12 and 1 pm). As a result, the building will minimise its operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. According to some estimates, the AI-IoT synergy could cut HVAC’s electricity demand by up to 25%.

Surfing the wireless irrigation wave

Prolonged drought is one of the climate changes already experienced in many regions of the globe. This inevitably translates into water shortages. In this regard, agriculture is a major contributor, "drinking” roughly 70% of human freshwater withdrawals. In particular, inefficient (manual or wire-based) irrigation systems are mostly to blame.

However, IoT sensors can help waste less water by enabling precision irrigation. IRRIOT demonstrated a practical implementation of this concept through their innovative solution. The company’s IoT-based wireless irrigation system features three main elements:

• A remote terminal unit (RTU): Besides controlling up to 4 valves, this solar-powered computer can acquire and send out data.
• A wireless irrigation controller that can link with up to 32 RTUs and 34 sensors. Working on a 24/7 shift, this is the super brain that will schedule plants watering, monitor soil health, spot any failure, etc. This wireless information exchange occurs over distances of up to 10 Km thanks to ultra long-range (LoRa) radio waves. Pretty much the same way dolphins talk to one another!
• A web app that gives full control over the smart irrigation system anytime, from anywhere. The app will notify the user if there’s something wrong, thus avoiding unnecessary water inputs.

As claimed by IRRIOT, their IoT-enabled technology can save up to 50% of the water used on a site as well as increasing crop yield by up to 30%.

Making Things Better

The Internet of Things is also improving the way we make things (pun intended). Just like for buildings or irrigators, IoT sensors can seamlessly collect tons of data on the performance of manufacturing equipment. This allows spotting any anomalies in advance, thus preventing failures and therefore minimising downtime. That’s what it’s called predictive maintenance. As reported by Deloitte, this approach can reduce both cost (up to 10% and 20% for materials and machines respectively) and production inactivity (up to 50%).

On top of that, IoT devices can optimise resource usage. For instance, Nestlé seized this opportunity to cut down its water (by 30%) and energy (by 5%) consumption.

It’s imperative not to flush energy down the toilet. Armal, a leading company in the production of portable toilets, knows it better than anyone else. That’s why they invested in Zerynt’s IoT platform. Thanks to their dashboard, Armal can monitor their whole production line in real time. Doing so, the toilet manufacturer decreased their energy waste by 40%.

Conclusions

Smart buildings, precision irrigation, leaner production. IoT’s positive impacts on the planet are going viral across several industries. The examples outlined here prove how technology can enhance productivity while protecting nature.