An IoT application case study to optimize electricity consumption in the government sector

Abstract

This paper presents a case study where sensor modules supported by Internet of Things (IoT) technology were used to monitor and control electricity consumption of air conditioning units in an innovation center of a public government institution. This study evaluates alternatives to improve the management of electricity consumption in Salvador City Hall's facilities. To contribute to the economy and sustainability of the Administration, we aim to increase the efficiency of the processes currently adopted. Our focus is on minimizing electricity waste and reducing costs. Installed sensor modules measure electricity consumption and control the operation of air conditioning equipment, allowing the administrator to manage the operation of these devices. The installation of smart sensor modules connected to an IoT platform allows energy consumption data to be sent to a computing Cloud and to be monitored remotely through dashboards generated by specialized software. A quantitative analysis was conducted to measure the efficiency of the air conditioning control system and identify opportunities for applying the IoT solution to control natural resources in the public sector. The monitoring of these signals subsidized the analyzes required for informed decision making of interventions to improve the system’s stability and promote the reduction of consumption. Also, the system has demonstrated its ability to protect air conditioners, monitor the quality of the power supplied, proactively control consumption, and establish appropriate user behaviors for reducing consumption. Results demonstrated the feasibility of implementing automated systems to improve the consumption of natural resources in the public sector. We also identified some managerial behaviors required to enable this type of technological solution.