Exploring the role of the Internet of Things in green buildings

Abstract

The global energy crisis has been one of the significant challenges for decades, threatening the global economy, and the health of our environment. The government's efforts to enhance the welfare and lifestyle of citizens have been partially undermined by a significant rise in energy intensity, resulting in increased energy consumption. Over the years, researchers have utilized historical energy consumption data to enhance energy efficiency through various technologies. Innovative smart technologies drive energy efficiency, reducing energy usage throughout all areas of the energy industry, from production and supply to consumption. This creates a balance in all sectors and indicates a decrease in energy demand in all areas of building infrastructure. Green buildings that utilize Internet of Things (IoT) technology employ sensors and software to collect data, optimizing, and enhancing building performance. This includes reducing energy and electricity consumption, improving air quality, and optimizing lighting throughout the day. These buildings can contribute to reaching zero‐energy building targets. It becomes challenging to manage green buildings without using centralized control. Therefore, managing and integrating these buildings with intelligent technologies is vital in achieving environmentally friendly management. This study offers a broad overview of the green building concept and explores the use of the green IoT in enhancing services and conserving energy within green buildings. The article aims to deliver an extensive review of green buildings and their advantages, analyze the technology behind the IoT and its integration with solar panels to lower energy consumption, and ultimately identify the challenges present in this area of research.