As part of the effort to cut costs in the global recession, many commercial building owners and managers have installed building energy management systems to reduce energy use and operating expenses, Pike Research stated. While these systems can provide significant efficiency gains, their sophistication can be beyond the capabilities and resource levels of a building’s operating or maintenance staff.

“As the need for sophisticated building energy management systems grows worldwide, so will the need for simpler, turnkey solutions that unlock energy efficiency,” said senior research analyst Eric Bloom. “Smart building managed services allow building owners to outsource their energy management needs to experts who continuously monitor their facilities, searching for opportunities to reduce energy costs and improve operations.”

Smart building managed services unite building equipment vendors, software companies, and real estate/property management companies in new ways. Pike Research noted that very few players in the current smart building managed services market could be considered purely managed service providers. According to the report, some of the strongest competitors are the large building systems equipment manufacturers, including Johnson Controls, Siemens, and Schneider Electric, which provide a wide variety of products and services in many different areas. Two more focused companies, Ecova and Pacific Controls, have developed significant technology offerings with a targeted, service-oriented approach.

Publication date: 9/17/2012