Buildings don't use energy. People use energy.
That perspective may be at the heart of the
21st-century commercial building. A multitude of research projects are currently working to unlock the secrets to improving equipment, and they will undoubtedly help transform commercial buildings into more efficient, cost-effective places. Beyond that, however, the real goal of improving and integrating systems will be to increase their versatility in responding to occupants. As we better understand the correlation between IAQ and productivity, owners will be motivated less by the fear of IAQ litigation and more by the ultimate economic benefits of comfort.
In short, while technology often steals the spotlight when discussing the future, the change likely to mark the next decades is a philosophical one - spending less time focusing on how buildings work and more time on how people work inside those buildings. The technology will follow suit.