US Senator Maria Cantwell has introduced legislation to make federal buildings smarter. The Smart Building Acceleration Act includes many Internet of Things (IoT) devices that will be used to create energy efficiency in buildings. The federal government is the largest building owner in the US with more than 400,000 properties. Sen. Cantwell believes that the federal government, as well as the Smart Building Acceleration Act, can actually be a catalyst to increasing transition to smart building technology across the country. Sen. Maria Cantwell’s legislation, introduced last month, encourages more federal agencies to embrace new energy saving technologies, such as digital air conditioning units that automatically react to cooling needs or window blinds that instinctively raise or lower depending on incoming sunlight. However, despite enthusiasm in the private sector for connected buildings, some critics warn against systems that could make federal buildings more vulnerable to cyber attack. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has raised concerns about […]