Powering the Future: How Agile Furniture Can Bridge the Gap to DC-powered Office Buildings
By Robert Kroon
A DC-powered building is beneficial for owners, but users still want to use their legacy AC-powered computer equipment. Is there a solution that satisfies both parties?
The question of why direct current (DC) power hasn't yet revolutionized our buildings often sparks debate among owners, facilities managers, and architects. A common assumption is that our ingrained reliance on alternating current (AC) powered devices, particularly computers, acts as an insurmountable barrier. While the historical dominance of AC infrastructure and the vast ecosystem of AC-powered electronics undeniably play a significant role, this perspective overlooks the evolving landscape of technology and the compelling advantages of DC power in modern buildings.
For over a century, AC has been the undisputed king of power distribution, its reign solidified by the early "War of the Currents" and the subsequent development of a massive global AC grid. Consequently, most appliances and electronic devices, including the ubiquitous computer, were designed to operate on AC.
This created a cyclical dependency, where AC infrastructure supported AC devices, making a wholesale shift to DC appear economically daunting and logistically complex. Retrofitting existing buildings for DC would involve substantial upfront investment and potential disruption, often outweighing the perceived immediate benefits for budget-conscious stakeholders. Architects, too, are deeply familiar with established AC codes and standards, making the adoption of nascent DC building power systems a step into less familiar territory.
However, attributing the slow adoption of DC solely to the prevalence of AC computers ignores a fundamental truth: many of our modern electronic devices, including those powered by AC adapters, actually operate internally on DC. The AC power we feed them undergoes a conversion process within the device, a process that inherently generates energy loss.
A building designed with native DC power distribution could bypass these internal conversions, leading to significant gains in energy efficiency. Furthermore, the increasing prominence of renewable energy sources like solar panels and battery storage, both of which generate DC power, makes DC distribution within buildings a far more logical and efficient pathway for direct energy utilization.
Imagine the transformative potential of Agile Workplace furniture, thoughtfully designed with both AC and DC outlets.
August Berres desks are available with a DC-only configuration or a DC+AC configuration.
The key to navigating this power paradigm shift and facilitating a smoother transition might lie within the very spaces we inhabit and how they are furnished. Imagine the transformative potential of Agile Workplace furniture, thoughtfully designed with both AC and DC outlets. This seemingly simple design innovation directly addresses the immediate needs of today's users, who rely on a diverse array of devices with varying power requirements.
Providing DC-powered AC outlets eliminates daily frustrations with power incompatibility, seamlessly supporting the dynamic nature of agile work environments. The most common DC outlet being used in commercial workspaces now, is the increasingly popular USB C outlet providing DC power up to 100W, which can directly power most new electronic equipment
The brilliance of this dual-outlet approach extends far beyond immediate user convenience. It provides a practical and phased pathway towards a future where DC power plays a more significant role in our buildings. Furniture equipped with DC-powered AC for legacy equipment and USB-C outlets for new equipment serves as an essential intermediary, effectively separating the user interface from the building's power systems..
This allows building owners to strategically upgrade sections of their electrical systems to DC power incrementally, without causing widespread disruption to occupants or requiring immediate wholesale changes. Moreover, facilities managers can leverage data on the usage patterns of AC versus DC outlets, gaining invaluable insights into the evolving power demands of their users and informing future infrastructure investments with real-world data.
Furthermore, the readily available presence of DC power outlets within the workspace can subtly encourage the adoption of more DC-powered devices over time. As the building's infrastructure gradually embraces DC, future furniture procurement can strategically lean towards DC-only options, simplifying installations and reducing costs.
With DC-powered AC outlets built into Agile Furniture, building owners can transition to DC-powered buildings without impacting users.
While the initial investment in Agile Workplace furniture with dual AC/DC receptacles might represent a premium compared to traditional AC-only options, this upfront cost must be considered within the broader context of the substantial long-term cost savings associated with a comprehensive DC-powered building infrastructure. The reduced energy consumption resulting from fewer power conversions, the potential for simplified wiring and components, the enhanced integration of on-site renewable energy generation and storage, and potentially lower maintenance costs of DC systems can collectively offset the initial furniture investment and yield significant overall cost savings throughout the building's lifecycle.
In conclusion, the strategic integration of dual AC/DC receptacles into Agile Workplace furniture offers a pragmatic and user-centric approach to bridging the power divide in our buildings. It addresses the immediate needs of a diverse user base while simultaneously laying a practical and economically viable foundation for a future where the inherent efficiencies and sustainability benefits of DC power can be fully realized. By focusing on adaptable and forward-thinking solutions within the agile workspace, we can pave the way for a more energy-efficient, resilient, and ultimately, DC-powered future for our buildings.
