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Are volatile energy prices for fossil fuels compelling businesses worldwide to invest in better energy management technologies? There is a lot of evidence that suggests this is the case. For example, Bloomberg New Energy Finance reports that investment in clean energy increased 5% to $260bn in 2011.
Additionally, figures suggest that buildings could consume as much as 42% of energy usage worldwide. Add the fact that oil and gas prices are mostly unpredictable, and it becomes clear why the trend toward energy efficiency in buildings and facilities has gone global.
The TNT Centre, a five story, 17,000 m2 green building in The Netherlands, have embraced renewable energy sources and made investments in their energy infrastructures to achieve energy efficiency.
Other businesses are still sticking to their guns. Change is a major concern. And, for many, there is a misconception that all existing energy equipment will have to be replaced with costly systems. This simply isn’t true.
The reality is that reducing energy usage in commercial buildings isn’t that challenging at all. Technologies exist today to help commercial building owners reduce their buildings’ energy usage and costs. Integrated technology solutions make it possible to unite disparate power infrastructure elements. Even third-party systems can be utilized and connected with new tools to minimize the costs of energy investments.
Anyone involved in making energy decisions can have more energy control. And, analytical tools enable energy managers to anticipate usage, allowing them to make adjustments accordingly without sacrificing energy reliability or operational efficiency.
Whether a single site or multiple locations, decision-makers can quickly monitor, analyze, and control their entire network. Since the goal of every business is to grow, scalability and reliability are important factors. With flexible solutions, businesses can adapt to their unique business requirements.
A healthcare facility professional can eliminate error-prone manual testing of backup generation to reduce overall risk and liability. Commercial building personnel can predict energy consumption to improve financial performance across their entire portfolio. And, industrial facilities can improve availability and economic performance with powerful reporting and control tools.
Balancing priorities can be a challenge for business owners. They need to meet emission regulations, ensure optimal operations, and make money. When this balance is struck, business owners are more likely to invest in energy management solutions.
The opportunity to improve the bottom line compels forward-thinking businesses to adapt. To be successful, it is important that buildings are comfortable so that employees and visitors enjoy being there. And, technology assets perform better in the right conditions so cooling systems are a staple in commercial buildings.
But, it’s not just about comfort and system performance. Business owners are fiercely independent, do what they love, and want to make money. The financial benefits of energy efficiency are obvious. The positive impact business owners can make on the environment is an added plus.
Some predict that commercial energy management will be transformed by 2020. With the global business community moving toward renewable energy, why would any business not want to invest in modern energy management technology?
