Buildings and properties account for a significant proportion of total energy consumption – and much of it is wasted. As both the climate and energy crises put pressure on operating costs, we need to rethink how we use data to make decisions about building operations. Not based on gut feelings, but on facts.

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Data- and fact-based decisions have been a focus area in many industries for several years – and increasingly so in building management. But even though it may sound complex to implement at first glance, the overall message is relatively simple:

The data from buildings, which has been rarely used until now, holds the key to the future, and when AI orchestrates the interaction between systems and actors, information is transformed into savings. A win-win scenario in both economic and environmental terms.

Whereas energy optimisation was previously based on manual readings, estimates and standard settings, AI now enables continuous analysis and automatic adjustments. By connecting data sources from existing technical systems, such as electricity meters, heating and ventilation systems, weather data and opening hours, AI can identify patterns, deviations and energy waste that humans overlook and respond in real time.

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When data becomes visible and usable, waste becomes more than just a technical problem – it becomes real and economic.
Malte Frederiksen, Ento

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According to Malte Frederiksen, co-founder of Danish tech company Ento.ai, the potential is enormous: "The core of our solution is an AI-driven energy platform that identifies energy waste and optimisation opportunities without the need for new hardware. For example, we have seen that ventilation systems are a major culprit: an enormous amount of energy is wasted by ventilating beyond actual needs."

Another concrete example comes from an analysis across 80 bank branches, where up to 20 per cent of electricity consumption took place at night, without any operational justification. When such patterns become visible, it becomes easier to make decisions that actually reduce consumption – without compromising comfort or performance inside the building.

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The industry is beginning to shift

AI-based solutions are gaining ground, not only among technology companies, but also among property owners and facility management organisations that recognise the benefits of a more data-driven approach.

There is increasing investment in digital operations and automated management. There is increasing investment in digital management and automated control. And both technology suppliers and research environments are working to optimise performance and ensure better ESG reporting.

In summary, it is no longer just about reducing kilowatt hours, but about creating long-term value. Whereas ESG reporting has previously focused on intentions and policies, AI now makes it possible to measure the actual impact. And when the effect can be documented with valid data, it generally increases both credibility and the ability to prioritise correctly.

But even though the technology for energy optimisation is available and already in use in many places, there is room for improvement. Many buildings have the necessary technical systems in place – we have yet to see the available data being used actively. The systems need to be connected, and decisions should not be made without a complete picture.

‘It's not more technology we need – it's better use of what we already have. When data becomes visible and usable, waste becomes more than just a technical problem – it becomes real and economic,’ says Malte Frederiksen from Ento.ai.

Anders Holm Jørgensen, founder of the technology company proprty.ai, agrees: "Building owners are drowning in information, but rarely translate valid and up-to-date data into action. With proprty.ai, we use AI to gather knowledge about condition, maintenance needs and energy consumption in a single database. This provides operations with a fact-based basis for decisions and creates less waste, healthier properties and documented CO₂ reduction, from individual buildings to entire portfolios."

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From pilot projects to the new normal

Although the technology is available, it is far from being fully implemented. Many buildings still have systems that do not communicate with each other or data that is not actively used. Therefore, the next step for the construction and real estate industry will be to make AI-based operations the rule rather than the exception.

This requires collaboration across owners, facility management organisations, consultants and technology companies. But the benefits – in the form of lower energy consumption, better indoor climate, better decision-making and documented sustainability – are too great to ignore. AI is not a magic solution, but a tool that – used correctly – can change the way we understand and operate buildings.

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The article was originally published on businessinsights.dk

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