Smarter buildings count on real-time data to operate efficiently. No matter how intelligent the system claims to be, it’s only as good as the information it receives from a network of sophisticated sensors. Insights from data collectors like indoor air quality (IAQ) spread throughout an HVAC system can help operators reduce energy waste and maintain occupant comfort.
However, outdated or poorly integrated sensors are holding many facilities back.
IAQ plays a central role in both comfort and performance, but it’s often treated as a second-tier priority behind temperature or energy savings. That’s actually a mistake. Without clear visibility into air quality metrics like CO₂ levels, humidity, VOCs, or airflow, building owners and facilities teams miss key opportunities to fine-tune HVAC behavior. It’s always best to respond to comfort complaints before they escalate, of course, but these adjustments are also optimizing building-wide performance in real time. In other words, IAQ sensors support temperature and energy savings.
There’s a difference between having sensors and having insight.
Many buildings have CO₂ sensors or thermostats. However, conventional devices often operate in silos. They might trigger basic HVAC behavior, but they don’t always report to a central system for a historical trends log and nuanced, unified control across various building functions. They may not tell you the full story in a way that’s clear, contextual, and actionable.
Smarter buildings — and smarter IAQ monitoring — demand an interconnected network of IAQ sensors. BACnet compatibility is ideal, as open protocol monitors can measure multiple variables across different zones and communicate easily across manufacturers, systems, and data platforms. The next step is to tie everything together in a platform like ODIN that unifies the data and puts it in front of the right decision-makers.
The cloud-based ODIN system connects to a wide range of BACnet devices (HVAC units, thermostats, air quality sensors, lighting, meters, and more). Then, it makes that data accessible via a centralized, cloud-based dashboard. ODIN puts your building’s IAQ data at your fingertips, whether you're on your phone, your laptop, or a control panel in the mechanical room.
Once you’ve collected data, you need to be able to act on it. Data can be something like a trend of CO₂ levels or humidity over time — interesting, potentially useful, but not immediately impactful on its own. The next step, in an ideally secure, remote access system, is to use these insights to set appropriate thresholds and receive automated alerts when values fall outside optimal ranges. Facility teams can lean on these smart building systems to respond faster and avoid problems before tenants even notice.
For example, a rise in CO₂ levels during peak occupancy might mean HVAC airflow needs to be increased in that zone. With ODIN, a building engineer can get that alert, adjust the system remotely, and monitor the results, all without having to be on site.
The shift from passive monitoring to active, informed management is one of the defining features of smarter building systems. Your IAQ data is one of the most actionable sources of insight to drive that change.
High humidity levels often lead to overcooling when dehumidification is really what’s needed. Improper airflow may cause unnecessary fan usage. Poor ventilation in one zone can push adjacent units to work harder to compensate. When owners and operators improve IAQ monitoring, they also improve comfort and make more informed energy decisions.
Inefficiencies like the examples above add up quickly, especially across multi-zone facilities like office parks, educational campuses, and large commercial properties. ODIN pulls granular IAQ data into a unified interface, so teams can fine-tune their systems for both comfort and cost savings.
Because ODIN logs historical trends automatically, building owners can also use IAQ and energy data to support lease negotiations, justify system upgrades, or demonstrate improvements over time.
Digital transformation in facility management is already well underway. Nonetheless, too many smart building strategies stop at automation and overlook integration. A smart thermostat is useful. So is a CO₂ sensor. But unless they’re working together — and reporting to a platform that helps you actually use the data — they’re just more devices to manage.
With ODIN, every BACnet sensor becomes part of a coordinated system. That’s the difference between device-level control and true visibility. Facility managers can adjust settings, diagnose issues, and manage multiple buildings from a single platform from wherever they are, and without flipping through multiple dashboards.
The improved oversight pays off quickly. You might reduce callbacks due to tenant complaints. Or perhaps you’re better able to prove performance improvements. Techs can stay ahead of maintenance issues. In all cases, centralized IAQ monitoring strengthens the value of your smart building investment.