In the end, it all comes down to return on investment (ROI), for smart buildings and most everything else. The promise of energy efficiency, better access control, greater comfort and environmental responsibility are all well and good, but to convince the majority of customers, the smart building sector needs to get specific on the returns building owners can expect from their smart investments. The EPA estimates that the typical commercial facility wastes 30% of its energy. Then consider that commercial and industrial buildings in the U.S. alone are responsible for $200 billion in annual energy costs, this means as much as $60 billion being wasted each year. There is clearly potential for significant ROI from energy efficiency technology. However, “the notion that there is “an ROI,” like there’s one number out there lurking in the forest ready to be slain by the arrow of technology, is too simplistic. The answer is much more nuanced and […]