Big data seen dominating building performance market

New entrants with cost-effective technologies are emerging to meet the growing demand for real-time monitoring in order to optimize energy consumption, Lux Research says.

BOSTON, MA – With buildings under pressure to lower energy consumption, both to comply with legislation and to respond to market demand, the measurement and verification (M&V) industry is rapidly moving toward real-time performance tracking. New entrants, both in sub-metering hardware and Big Data analytics, will help audit the 760 billion sq feet of available building space, says Lux Research.

“Today, sub-metering devices are now available to measure all types of building utilities, such as electricity, water, fuels, and heating or cooling input, with very high precision – but with a high cost to match,” said Alex Herceg, Lux Research Analyst and the lead author of the report titled, “Proof in Performance – Improving BEMS (Building Energy Management Systems) through Measurement and Verification.” “Still, as real-estate managers slowly adopt a data-driven approach, the demand for the devices that can deliver actionable insights will grow.”

Lux Research analysts examined the current landscape of M&V offerings and found:

·  Big opportunity at the bottom of the building pyramid. Current offerings are not a good fit for buildings under 50,000 ft2 – the cost is too high to justify the energy savings. But an EU directive calling for energy services aimed at this segment could lead to a new model for servicing small structures.

·  Energy service companies (ESCOs) need to expand their reach. While measuring energy performance began as energy conservation measures for large institutional portfolios, it has been hobbled by the high initial cost of sub-metering infrastructure. ESCOs need to tailor their offerings to reach out to the broader commercial sector.

·  Better energy modeling can be disruptive. Companies such as Sefaira and Retroficiencey are poised to democratize the market, replacing expensive energy modeling techniques and inadequate physics simulation engines. Sefaira uses a cloud-based tool to rapidly prototype a building and assess energy impacts of design decisions. Similarly, Retroficiency’s “Automated Energy Audit” is a rapid-modeling tool to help engineers find opportunities for energy savings.

The report, titled “Proof in Performance – Improving BEMS through Measurement and Verification,” is part of the Lux Research Efficient Building Systems Intelligence service.

About Lux Research

Lux Research provides strategic advice and ongoing intelligence for emerging technologies. Leaders in business, finance and government rely on us to help them make informed strategic decisions. Through our unique research approach focused on primary research and our extensive global network, we deliver insight, connections and competitive advantage to our clients. Visit www.luxresearchinc.com for more information.

Contact:
Carole Jacques
Lux Research, Inc.
617-502-5314
carole.jacques@luxresearchinc.com

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