Considering the intersection of buildings energy and environment, the graphic below was used at the recent BACnet International meeting and Building Automation & Sustainability Conference, sponsored by Engineered Systems to illustrate a point. This is a simple message: smart buildings use energy in a clean and efficient way thus becoming green buildings. Clearly, this is not in complete synchronization with the USGB’s LEED® definition of green buildings, but in the larger context of energy and the environment, building intelligence may be more critical than many other factors. Recent data from the DOE indicates that electricity generation is responsible for 39% of greenhouse gas emissions, and the American Institute of Architects credits buildings alone with responsibility for 48% of greenhouse gas emissions.
There is some overlap between these numbers since buildings are large electricity users and the burning of fuel to produce that electricity is what causes greenhouse gas emissions. There has also been solid research done to validate the fact that these emissions increase at times of peak demand. This is because utilities must fire their least-efficient and highest-polluting plants to meet peak demand. This is really just another way to embrace the whole idea of green buildings, but more importantly to emphasize the HVAC, automation, and energy part of that equation. Integrators can’t tell a story about how our work addresses building sites, urban redevelopment, bike racks, or recycled carpet. They can however tell a story about energy and demand response, plus they may be able to help pay for their services with dollars from the utility.