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By Darlene Pope
Investments in green-building design and smart-building technologies are not the same. But they do increasingly go hand-in-hand as corporations work to achieve ambitious energy- (and cost-) savings targets. While energy efficiency may be the primary goal, many additional benefits accompany green or smart investments, according to experts presenting at the recent 2016 Building Energy Summit. Energy savings are just the tip of the iceberg.
Building technology is evolving more rapidly today than at any other point in history. That’s one reason that this year’s Building Energy Summit covered not just energy efficiency strategies in commercial buildings, but also all of the other ways new building technologies can contribute to better companies and communities.
There’s a new technology revolution underway, in the form of “smart” building operating systems and features that are transforming how commercial buildings are operated and how we work, live and play within them. New technologies are changing our buildings and communities — and it’s all about smart buildings.
Smart building technologies initially were adopted for the energy savings that can be achieved when all building systems are working together as efficiently as possible. Connected building systems, combined with a smart building management platform, constantly self-adjust in response to real time occupancy, air temperature, humidity, personal preferences, and other environmental factors.
A well-designed smart building can provide significant value for corporate employers and their employees:
Whether motivated by corporate social responsibility, the need to attract top talent, or a desire for cost efficiency, companies today are realizing smart building benefits well beyond their initial vision. Making buildings more responsive to the needs of the occupants is a goal for everyone—from corporate tenants and their employees to building managers, owners and investors—and it’s just smart business.
Image credit: Pixabay
Darlene Pope is Senior Vice President, Energy and Sustainability Services, at JLL. She has 25 years of experience in commercial real estate, technology and smart building solutions, along with a passion for making a positive impact on building operations and management. She founded and heads the annual Building Energy Summit® and is a nationally recognized author and speaker on intelligent buildings, energy management, green buildings, sustainability, in-building wireless solutions and other real estate technologies.
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