Energy savings resulting from proper space management and the use of building access management systems can translate into a reduction in energy needs and annual carbon emissions of buildings, contributing significantly to environmental sustainability efforts. This is what emerges from ISEO Ultimate Access Technologies research carried out with the Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering of the Politecnico di Milano, based on a case study with the aim of assessing the impact of smart locking systems on the energy performance of buildings.

The widespread adoption of flexible working models has led to sub-optimal space management in offices. In response to this challenge, smart access control emerges as a key solution for a number of factors, including: the implementation of people flow management strategies, space optimisation and the reduction of building energy needs.

The research results indicate that the optimised closure of one half-floor per day can lead to a reduction in standardised annual costs of approximately 13-14% and primary energy of between 56 and 123 MWh for the building under study. The research also wanted to take into account the environmental impact related to the production of the materials that make up the electronic devices, to the installation of the systems in place, and to the maintenance of the main components for optimised space management. In this regard, it noted that, also from a life-cycle perspective, the higher carbon emissions measured in comparison to a conventional access management system are completely offset in just a few months by the avoided emissions due to energy savings in the use of the building.

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