by AF 0327 d3 — March 29, 2010—The Cleantech Group, a leading global research and advisory firm focused on clean technology innovation, has released As Energy Efficiency Booms, Buildings Get a Brain, a comprehensive analysis of energy efficiency innovations in commercial office buildings. The report was produced through extensive research and interviews with leading corporations, investors, early stage ventures, and industry influencers, according to Cleantech Group.
“Commercial office buildings consume 40 percent of the electricity produced in the U.S. and 18% of total U.S. energy,” said Sheeraz Haji, president of the Cleantech Group. “Our analysis shows that energy efficiency is poised to overtake solar as a top investment category in 2010, and commercial buildings represent a prime target. Lower investment costs, financial incentives, and faster payback periods are fueling product competition as data-driven technologies battle over the buildings brain.”
The Cleantech report, an installment of the firm’s flagship enterprise research subscription, suggests that the market for efficiency innovations is changing. As governments and investors become more focused on energy performance within buildings carbon risk exposure becomes more prominent. Governments with targets for reducing carbon and energy independence are pushing hard for performance monitoring and are pouring money into the sector. And many building owners and investors are beginning to realize that green building labels such as LEED certification don’t necessarily equate to expected operational savings, says Cleantech.
The focus on performance is driving an information and communication technologies (ICT) invasion of buildings to enable greater visibility and control as vendors compete to be the gateway to building intelligence. Data-driven energy efficiency products and services look poised to grow, including low-powered Wi-Fi sensors, energy management software, building automation, and smart lighting and windows.
For more information, see the Cleantech Web site.
