How technology can help the CRE market achieve peak building performance

How technology can help the CRE market achieve peak building performance

The commercial real estate sector has faced significant challenges recently, including the move toward hybrid work, inflation and rising costs of services and the requirement for greater energy efficiency. The good news is that technology can help solve for these challenges.

In light of these hurdles, many building owners and operators are focused on creating an attractive environment for occupants as they return to the office. One way building owners can set themselves apart is by improving indoor air quality (IAQ). This is particularly relevant considering the surge of wildfires that impacted air quality across the U.S. last summer. There is also an increased awareness of airborne pathogens and indoor pollutants in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Studies show that we spend nearly 90% of our time indoors^[i], raising questions like: Do we ventilate enough? Is our filtration working? How do we know what our level of air quality is? To help keep indoor air as clean as possible, building operators first need data about the air pollutants and particulates in their buildings. Honeywell’s Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) sensors collect data on the impurities in an indoor environment, which is then integrated into the building management system (BMS). This enables automatic adjustments to improve air quality, providing a healthier indoor environment for occupants.

The sensors measure the air in a room and use a simple display to show overall air quality with the option to show as many as five key elements of better air. This gives facility managers the data they need to optimize energy use and air quality at the same time. That data can also support WELL building certifications and ratings, which helps building owners create attractive environments to visitors, employees and tenants. Honeywell IAQ sensors provide simple visual confirmation of air quality, so people in the building can see for themselves that the air they breathe is clean and safe. 

Research shows that providing a healthier, comfortable building environment promotes a welcoming occupant experience. It also yields important operational advantages, such as fewer sick days and greater productivity. According to an article in the Harvard Business Review^[ii], “Study after study has shown that the amount of ventilation, or fresh outdoor air brought inside, is a critical determinant of health. Good ventilation has been shown to reduce sick building syndrome symptoms, cut absenteeism, and even reduce infectious disease transmission.”

Using tech to control costs

Embracing a smarter, tech-focused approach to building operations not only leads to a better experience for occupants and tenants, but it can also have a transformative impact on the bottom line. For instance, by leveraging real-time occupancy data and historical trends, facility teams can regularly adjust cleaning schedules and optimize service contracts to better account for usage patterns throughout the building.

Where once a building may have had, say, six floors of full occupancy on a full-time basis, in today’s hybrid work environment that same building may only have three floors of occupancy at any given time. Situations like this must be better managed to avoid waste. By leveraging real-time occupancy data, facility teams can gain insights into which areas of the building are being used most frequently and when. This allows them to tailor cleaning schedules to match demand, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently and effectively.

Beyond cleaning schedules, the benefits of a tech-focused approach to building operations can extend to other areas such as concierge and cafeteria services. Leveraging historical occupancy data and tenant calendar information, facility teams can better manage these services to meet the needs of occupants while minimizing waste. For instance, if occupancy is expected to be low on a particular day due to a holiday or corporate event, cafeteria staff can adjust food orders and staffing levels accordingly, helping to reduce costs and eliminate excess inventory.

Batteries are essential to sustainability

Making commercial buildings more sustainable and making better use of energy is another priority focus. Reducing the carbon footprint of the building sector is a prerequisite for combating climate change. This sector is one of the leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, and its carbon footprint continues to grow. According to the U.N. Environment Programme, buildings worldwide are responsible for more than 34% of global energy demand and around 37% of CO2 emissions^[iii].

A growing number of commercial building operators are embracing renewable energy solutions by integrating solar panels and/or harnessing wind power. However, for renewable sources to be truly effective, they must be reliable and resilient. This is where a battery energy storage system (BESS) comes in. A BESS can store the renewable energy generated in order to make it available even when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing.

Battery storage is an essential element of any large renewable power system. It enables users to transform intermittent resources such as solar and wind into reliable energy sources. With BESS technology, commercial building operators can efficiently store renewable power and tap into it when they need it. Moreover, they can lower their electricity expenses by charging up when energy is more affordable and deploying it during peak demand periods when electricity costs are higher.

In fact, Honeywell saw significant improvements at one of its own building sites after installing a BESS. The result was a significant reduction in energy consumption and the elimination of power dips at the site.

The road ahead

Commercial real estate is undergoing a period of transformation and will continue to witness numerous changes in the years ahead. However, what remains constant is the imperative for building operators to maximize operational efficiency. With the right partner, operators can attain peak building performance and achieve optimal business outcomes. Connect with a Honeywell expert today to learn more about the many ways technology helps building operators achieve their goals.

Connect with a Honeywell expert to learn more.

[i] BuildingGreen, We Spend 90% of Our Time Indoors. Says Who? [Date Accessed April 16, 2024]

[ii] Harvard Business Review, Research: Stale Office Air is Making You Less Productive [Date Accessed April 16, 2024]

[iii] U.N. Environment Programme, Sustainable Buildings [Date Accessed April 12, 2024]