Building Efficiency Here and Abroad

Today we’re taking a look at energy efficiency in buildings.

We’re starting with a global perspective, because to get a sense of what building owners and managers in various countries are thinking about when it comes to energy efficiency. When we went looking for a global perspective we found it from the Institute for Building Efficiency. The institute was put together by Johnson Controls, and for the last five years it has conducted the Energy Efficiency Indicator Survey. Each year the survey seems to expand its geographic reach, and this year included respondents from 13 countries on six continents. There is too much information in the survey to share here, but the three main takeaways have been summed up as:

• Energy cost savings, government incentives and enhanced public image [are] the biggest motivators for energy-efficiency investments
• Green building movement reaches new heights with nearly four in 10 achieving certifications, twice as many as last year
• North America building owners expect lighting and smart building technology to play major role in the future

The last takeaway brought us back the U.S. building stock. It didn’t take us long to find a lot of information about building efficiency programs and incentives. What we really enjoyed finding, though, were reports of major savings from energy efficiency upgrades. One in particular, about IBM, caught our attention. That’s because, as reported in GreenBiz.com, IBM found $50 million in savings – mainly from HVAC and lighting upgrades.

Of course IBM’s upgrades are very close to those identified by the Institute for Building Efficiency’s report as being likely to play a role in the future efficiency upgrades of North American building owners. We know that lighting and HVAC upgrades won’t work for every building or business, but they will work for many. And based on IBM’s success it seems like the intentions of building owners and managers will mesh nicely with the energy saving opportunities that are likely available in their facilities.

Image via the Institute for Building Efficiency

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