What Does the Future of Energy Management Look Like?

Logan Soya

Part 2 of 2 In the recent Q&A below with Logan Soya , founder and CEO of Aquicore , said that there are many low to no-cost options that enable landlords to drastically reduce their energy consumption. Aquicore offers energy analytics and automation solutions for commercial real estate . In part two of this Q&A, we chatted about how to adapt a new technology and the future of energy management. GlobeSt.com: How does a landlord get its building management team to adopt a new technology? Soya : Technology should facilitate the process, not change it. Thus, landlords must make sure that each new tool is worth the investment of time to effectively implement. First, landlords can research all available options and identify the best technology fit for each building and team. Then, they must be the champions of the technology and demonstrate why this tool provides value. New tools, no matter how simple, will always have a learning curve. Once the engineering teams understand how the new tool will help them, training sessions will ensure the tool is used properly to achieve maximum effectiveness. GlobeSt.com: How will technology enable a landlord to run his or her buildings better? Soya : Landlords have three primary goals in building operations: Reduce operating expenses to increase revenue; Increase operational efficiency (thereby making employees happier); and Improve tenant relations and satisfaction As technology continues to advance, new tech tools are vital to maintaining a competitive advantage and achieving these objectives. The right technology can significantly improve current processes and allow employees to direct their efforts to other, more valuable tasks. One example is automated tenant invoicing, a process that used to take hours, if not days, for manual meter readings and input into traditional spreadsheet calculations. This allows property managers to focus on tenant relations and amenities instead. If a landlord’s current technology doesn’t help achieve his or her goals, it’s time to identify the tools that are their best options. GlobeSt.com: Where do you see the future of energy management? Soya : Intersections: The intersection of technology and commercial real estate for energy management empowers decision-makers with real-time access to information that previously was only available in monthly or quarterly reports. As a result an organization can make quick, informed decisions on energy management initiatives, and ultimately focus on the aspects of the business that provide the most value. Collaboration: Many of the energy management tools available are collaborative allowing for easier and faster sharing of information across a team. Integration: Integrated solutions are becoming a key part of energy management, and technology as a whole. The market is not (and will not be) a place where consumers can find a “one-stop shop” solution anymore. We’re seeing multi-vendor solutions where each company is highly focused, but integrates with other tools to seamlessly create the best user experience available for consumers. Nimble and Modular: Technology will be incredibly nimble and modular, which will allow rapid growth and development, with the resulting energy management solutions able to reach new levels of transparency and control.