Keeping our buildings running contributed roughly 26% of global energy-related greenhouse-gas emissions in 2022,. For the world to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, the agency says the energy that these buildings consume per square meter needs to decline by around 35% by 2030.
Governments are also introducing increasingly stringent energy codes for commercial spaces. Still, more than 80% of buildings don’t have smart systems to efficiently manage their energy use.which manages billions of square feet of commercial real estate around the world, has been making a string of investments to bring AI systems to companies looking to cut their emissions. The business case: Eco-friendly buildings charge higher rents and are on the market for less time.
JLL’s investments include in Turntide, a company based in Sunnyvale, Calif. that installs electric motors coupled with small computers which learn from patterns to more precisely control heating and cooling, and Envio Systems, a Berlin-based company that develops sensors to track a building’s use, occupancy and other factors to adjust lighting, cooling and similar energy-related activities.
Generally, AI building systems learn from historical patterns and the daily habits of occupants to predict and power things on and off. For instance, software and hardware that automatically manages lights, heating and cooling can help buildings cut 20% or more of their yearly energy use.