In the ever-changing landscape of property management, staying ahead with technology is not just a choice but a necessity. That’s where our
the Lancet Covid-19 Commission released a report on current IAQ standards. They found they don’t protect against the spread of infectious diseases in the air. The report considers ventilation, filtration, and disinfection rates in five types of small and medium-sized spaces. These include office, restaurant dining room, elementary classroom, hotel lobby, and supermarket. The report states, “there is no debate that the current targets are too low”.
buildings as “health promoting environments” with “ventilation standards designed for health”.
A recent report by the National Resources Defense Council titled “Powering Toward 100% Clean Power by 2035” studies whether we can achieve this. Thanks to a history of environmental regulation and recent funding from the Biden Administration, the US can reach 100% clean power by 2023. This means we can meet our national commitment for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the Paris Agreement, too.
By integrating IoT, commercial buildings, can use less energy and be cheaper and safer. However, “The Internet of Things in Smart Commercial Buildings 2018 to 2022,” published in 2018 reports that most commercial buildings have yet to fully exploit the power of smart control systems. In 2023, not much has changed… yet.
As a group, “Long Tail” buildings use 44% of energy in the United States. This makes them key for grid stability and climate change mitigation. Even so, only 13% of long tail buildings have a building automation system (BAS) that controls HVAC, the primary load in the building. In contrast, 71% of larger buildings have a BAS installed.
Among many other tasks, good property managers strive to provide a great tenant experience and manage energy. They face a challenge, though. In the age of COVID and wildfires, tenants’ demand for clean, safe indoor air is high and growing. Lucky for us, the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) Community Investment Plan (CIP) offers an exciting way to address these concerns. Geared towards projects led by or for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, CIP funds must be used for climate justice outcomes.
In the face of escalating energy demands and the urgency of tackling climate change, the intersection of smart buildings and Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) is no longer just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Recognizing this, the US Department of Energy (USDOE) has offered a groundbreaking roadmap aimed at meeting the Biden administration’s 2030 climate goals.
For property managers, DERs may offer the following:
Energy Management and Reliability. DER systems can augment current energy sources. This helps manage energy costs and ensures a reliable power supply.
Energy Independence. Buildings can run independently from the electric power grid using DER systems.
Economic Benefits. High energy and fuel costs and incentives can greatly lower the life-cycle costs of DER.
Emergency Preparedness. DER systems offer energy security when they power critical loads during power outages. This is good for the building and the community.
For property managers who want to make use of DERs, but don’t know where to start, we
A glimpse into the future of building management The ever-growing concern about indoor air quality (IAQ) and its impact on public health
Think of a BMS or BAS as the physical heart and brain of your building. It’s a collection of technological components designed to autonomously control any system in a building, like HVAC and energy storage and generation control. On the other hand, BuildingLens is like the smart coach that ensures this heart and brain operate at their peak. Our service is designed to optimize, enhance, and streamline the function of these systems.