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46 | A PR IL 2018 Electrical & Communication Systems S O U N D O F F The user experience of someone in a build- ing can be improved in even more ways by technology. Take, for instance, the acoustic qualities of a building; though building materials, textures and room layout can impact how sound bounces around a space, high-tech solutions like sound masking can add a more precise layer of control to the aural experience. Even though Vibra-Sonic Control is not a company of electrical engineers, its work with sound masking brings the team into contact with plenty of electrical and com- munication systems. "The sound masking we do is an electrical system. Typically we install it in offices for increased privacy," explains Danielle Macey, project co- ordinator for Vibra-Sonic. "Sound masking basically raises the ambient level in an office so that people can have more speech privacy." The latest Vibra-Sonic sound masking systems offer an option to increase privacy; hit a button when you're in a meeting by raising the sound masking for people in the adjacent area. Done electronically with speakers distributed throughout the space, it creates an even sound throughout the office. "It sounds a lot like HVAC," says Macey. "What it's doing is raising the level of the ambient sound in a room, so that people in an open office have more privacy." As open-concept designs increase in popularity, sound solutions like this one are increasingly necessary to preserve privacy and intimacy. B E T T E R T O G E T H E R All of these factors are increasingly able to be controlled in harmony. In the past, buildings would typically have standalone electrical and communication systems, but today, these essential elements are easily integrated. A single platform that maintenance staff can operate in one place (sometimes even with text message or email auto updates) makes for a cohesive caretaking experience, and one that can save operators money not just from energy reduction, but from manpower and time in the long run. One core system that controls all the essentials makes for a simplified operational experience and can also eliminate communication issues like crosstalk between different units. Though individual choices and grassroots green movements can make a huge difference to normalize energy efficient products and choices, ultimately top-down pressure from government programs and building codes can make a lasting impact too. Alexandra Campbell, spokesperson for the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), points out that initiatives and programs like Ontario's Save on Energy encourage residents to adopt new energy-efficient technology for their home. The growing culture of conservation should in turn be shaping the decisions of architects and builders. Rebates for smart thermostats and for installing air-source heat pumps, as well as other Save on Energy incen- tives alongside changes in the building code, are expected to impact electrical design into the future. One other successful example of government programs helping manage energy consumption is the Government of Ontario's recently launched new agency called the Green Ontario Fund, a not-for-profit provincial agency tasked with helping people and businesses reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use cleaner technol- ogy in their homes and workplaces. Demand for the Green Ontario Fund's first program, which provided no-cost smart thermostats and in-home energy reviews to anyone who signed up, was extremely high, showing how motivated home and business owners are to both conserve energy and save money. Over on the West Coast, Houle Electric recently opened the Lionel Houle Electrical Shop at Camosun College, an upgraded electrical-training shop for the electrical leaders of tomorrow. Who knows what this new generation of talent will bring to the industry? It's incredible how far electrical and communication sys- tems have come even over the past few years, offering users a world of control over their environment with just the press of a button or tap on their smart phone. A Sound masking system installation from Vibra-Sonic Control.

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