Zurich UK launches smart building solution

Zurich UK has launched a new smart building proposition to help businesses cut property losses and boost sustainability.

Sensors monitor the real-time ‘health’ of buildings, allowing firms to increase operational efficiencies, reduce risk and optimise energy use to support carbon reduction. 

The sensors can be used in a variety of buildings, including manufacturing facilities, schools, education settings, hotels, offices, data centres, warehousing and retail buildings. They plug into existing building management systems and can be installed by building owners.

Louise Kerrigan, head of Property and Energy at Zurich Resilience Solutions, said: “Not only do smart sensors improve a building’s efficiency, they also reduce risks.

“Insights from the sensors can help detect dangers in real-time, alerting building managers and helping them take action to mitigate or remove threats before they become loss events. This saves costs, improves business resilience and keeps people safe.”

Mark Budd, Zurich UK’s head of Innovation, said:“Unlocking the power of data is the key to achieving safer, smarter and more sustainable buildings. By providing more effective controls over energy usage, this technology can help businesses to enhance their efficiency, reduce utility costs and promote a greener workplace.  

“This is even more critical as firms adapt to changing occupancy levels brought on by agile working.”  

Time for a health check?

The technology taps into operational and environmental data flowing around buildings, collecting as many as 26,000 data points every hour ranging from building temperature and air quality to occupancy levels and lighting. 

Data collected by the sensors is analysed against risk grading factors and the insurer’s best practice on sustainability, giving customers a score on their building’s performance.  

The performance scores are presented to customers in a 60-day health check report and real-time dashboard. The health check suggests ways for clients to gain sustainable savings and reduce risk, while the live dashboard allows users to set notification alerts when specific data points hit set thresholds.

Zurich has installed the sensors in a number of its offices space in the UK to focus on risk monitoring and operational improvements. It has already saved an estimated £7,500 per building, when the data revealed heating and cooling systems were in conflict at times.