In the past few years building owners and facility managers have witnessed a boom in the market for building energy displays and management systems. These next-generation systems – building on their predecessors developed for large building applications by Johnson Controls, Siemens, Trane and others – are increasingly catering to smaller buildings with information sharing and control capabilities.

A system shutdown is unthinkable for any information technology or facilities manager. The loss of internet or computer function can mean millions of dollars lost every minute. Making upgrades to equipment for the sake of efficiency may have been unfeasible in the past due to fears of reliability issues.

Everyone wants to save energy; everyone feels the pressure to reduce costs and improve the bottom line of their business in a lousy economic climate.

Many people assume that automated electronic building control systems are similar to other electronics.

With the demand for conservation, energy is the new buzzword that can’t be avoided.

For hope of reducing the carbon emissions created by the construction and operation of buildings, the focus must be on making existing building stock as energy efficient as possible.

Growing up, I can remember the energy crises of the 1970s and 80s.

What you don’t know about energy-consuming equipment in your buildings could cost you. Boilers, furnaces, water heaters, air-conditioners, windows — if any of these systems are under performing, you are losing money.