March 28, 2014: Building Automation Systems Are Being Transformed by Digital Technology
Building Automation Has Reached a Tipping Point
BOULDER, Colo. — The automation of various building systems — including HVAC, lighting, fire and life safety, and security and access controls — promises to improve energy efficiency and optimization, as well as enhance the comfort and health of occupants. Building automation systems have reached a tipping point, says Navigant Research, where embedded computing and digital communications are driving accelerating adoption of these systems. According to a report from the research firm, the building automation and controls industry will be fundamentally transformed by digital technologies in the coming years.
“Open and integrated systems, converged with modern information technologies, present both risks and rewards for industry stakeholders,” said Eric Bloom, principal research analyst with Navigant Research. “Because building control systems are usually changed only every few decades, much of the existing building stock is still dependent on older technologies — a reality that will change over time as digital controls replace outdated systems.”