Running a Smart Building is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

Future-proofing buildings and portfolios with smart technology is no longer an option; it’s an absolute necessity.  

Although data is the lifeblood of a smart building, simply having access to raw data is not enough to create a building that is optimized for maximum energy and operational efficiency. In fact, it is how the data is tracked and measured that makes all the difference between meaningless piles of data and actionable data intelligence. 

With access to the right data and reporting, owners, operators and property management teams can make informed decisions on the best approaches to reduce energy waste and costs across the portfolio of buildings they are responsible for. But this process takes time. 

Every Journey Begins With The First Step

The first step, however, is clearly identifying where the biggest and most economical impacts can be made short term, and implementing them. After you stop the bleeding, the picture becomes much clearer on where to focus effort and dollars.

The fact is, creating and maintaining a smart and connected building is a marathon, not a sprint; and there really is no finish line. Literally every step in the right direction counts for years of operational efficiency, optimized HVAC equipment function and maintenance, energy efficiency and GreenHouse Gas (GHG) CO2 reductions. This all adds up to capital investment cost savings, energy cost savings, improved environmental stewardship and more successful ESG initiatives.

Additional benefits to continuing a building’s smart and connected journey, include continuously improving resident comfort, increased asset value, and enhanced property, portfolio and management team prestige.

Starting With A Portfolio-Level Smart Energy Assessment Gets Your Building On Track For the Future 

We all know the saying: you can’t manage what you can’t measure. Yet, as urban buildings continue to contribute nearly 40% of the greenhouse gases released into our atmosphere each year, and operational costs continue to rise, Smart Energy Assessments—like the one created by HVAC technology innovator, Parity Inc.—are becoming critical tools for optimizing smart and sustainable buildings. 

An assessment helps you identify the precise amount of energy required to optimize your HVAC system for peak performance for years to come. And Smart Energy Assessments also serve to directly support energy cost reduction and ESG initiatives for every property in your purview. 

Having The Right Smart Partner Is Like Having A World-Class Coach For The Long Haul

Just like athletes, world-class buildings don’t get there by themselves. In order to achieve environmental optimization, it requires a diverse team with rich knowledge in different areas. When looking for a Smart partner and platform, be sure to look for:

1. A knowledgeable, committed team of professionals with dedicated technical support 
2. A human and machine learning platform with properly visualized energy efficiency data, that effectively monitors and controls equipment, and provides system issue alerts 
3. A partner who’s growing and growing with you—one who’s there for the long haul and will be with you for years to come, not just for a contract period

When your building system and the technology are supported by a great team, including technicians, engineers, smart tech vendors, and dedicated customer service folks, then your building can function at its best—delivering optimal results, whether that’s more cost savings or improved energy efficiency.

Get Good Data, And Run With It 

So, the next big question is: How do we turn all this data into actionable processes? Of course, the more data we collect, the more we can convert this information into operational improvements. Leveraging the know-how of your smart building team, gaps in your building’s system (often found in your boiler rooms and chillers), can be converted into cost savings and occupant comfort, like delivering warmer water when it is needed, or simply adjusting thermostats. When all is said and done, with the right technology, and the right team, your buildings become even more efficient, ultimately driving savings, and more significantly, successful sustainability initiatives.

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