Building Automation Systems Embrace Internet and IT Technologies.

Business/Technology Editors

DEDHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 20, 2002

After treading water for more than a decade during an era of unprecedented advances in new technologies, the Building Automation Systems (BAS) market is finally embracing Internet and IT technologies. The cost of implementing these once prohibitively expensive technologies continues to decline, dramatically changing how suppliers approach the automation of building controls and redefining the traditional roles of BAS solutions and their suppliers.

Energy Conservation Tops Customers Wish List

According to a user survey recently conducted by ARC Advisory Group, lowering energy costs is the leading goal for companies investing in building automation systems (BASs). "Manufacturing companies are searching for better ways to control energy expenditures and improve energy conservation efforts," according to ARC Senior Analyst David Clayton ([e-mail]), author of ARC's newly published study 'Building Automation Systems North American Outlook'. "Many companies have begun investing in powerful Internet-enabled building automation and energy management software systems that allow them to access and control their energy-intensive building devices and systems in real-time via a standard Web browser." Networked BASs give companies the power to extract critical energy data from existing systems and analyze that information to make intelligent procurement decisions. ARC estimates that users can save up to 20 percent on their energy costs by investing in an energy management program using a network BAS at its core.

Beyond Energy Conservation

There are many life cycle cost benefits of networked BASs beyond energy conservation. Networked BASs optimize manpower by allowing companies to manage all of their systems in one building or across multiple buildings from a remote location. Networked BASs also reduce maintenance costs by helping facility managers monitor building equipment performance. Perhaps the biggest cost benefit, however, is a BASs contributions to reducing the companys cost of operations by increasing employee comfort. Expanded use of Internet and IT technologies in BASs allow facility managers to define an ever increasing number of areas and comfort ranges to best suit their facilitys climate control requirements. "By greatly increasing the environmental customization available, networked BASs empower facility managers to make an ever greater percentage of the workforce comfortable, which greatly improves the companys overall productivity and bottom line," continued Clayton.

Worth the Investment

Although the initial cost of BASs has deterred many users from making the necessary investment, users must take into consideration that the cost of work lost due to employee discomfort far outweighs the cost of a new BAS. In a 10,000-square-foot building, lost productivity due to occupant discomfort can easily exceed $50,000 per year. Even a small increase in employee productivity translates into thousands of dollars in savings and goes a long way toward paying for the initial BAS investment.

Further information on this study can be found at: http://www.arcweb.com/arcweb/Advisory/Studies/EBus/bas.asp

This document can be used with attribution to ARC Advisory Group. For a graphic containing "Main Goals Users Wish to Accomplish Through Building Automation Investments", please contact Maryanne Flynn @ [e-mail].

ARC Advisory Group provides strategic planning and technology assessment services to leading manufacturing companies, utilities, and global logistics providers, as well as to software and solution suppliers worldwide. From Global 1000 companies to small start-up firms, ARC has the strategic knowledge needed to succeed in todays technology driven economy. Further information can be obtained from ARC, Three Allied Drive, Dedham, MA 02026, 781-471-1000, Fax [phone], E-mail [e-mail], Web ARCweb.com.