A sea of solar panels on a commercial real estate building with a city and mountain range in the background
By Remy Albillar

Top energy management services and solutions for commercial real estate

With the end of the year approaching, organizations managing commercial real estate (CRE) find themselves one step closer to critical sustainability deadlines. The latest Verdantix research suggests the market is increasingly turning to energy management services and solutions to achieve efficiency goals and comply with legal standards.

Key strategies driving interest in energy management services and solutions include the desire to lessen carbon emissions and reach net-zero targets, the need to combat unique efficiency challenges within the era of hybrid work, the goal of improving HVAC performance with AI, and the need for best-of-breed air quality and water quality monitoring.

However, the plethora of tools in the market can create decision paralysis. Guided by JLL Technologies’ expertise as a seasoned systems integrator, we’ve assembled a list of the top solutions that CRE portfolio managers can safely rely on as 2024 looms. Dive in and make the best choice for your real estate enterprise.

1. Carbon Pathfinder: Pursue decarbonization goals without uncertainty

Successfully achieving sustainability targets for businesses is highly complex and time-consuming. The challenge can be lessened, however, if organizations can model different decarbonization strategies before deployment and assess the cost-benefit ratio of each scenario. This approach, made possible via the best-in-breed decarbonization tool Carbon Pathfinder, allows firms to understand their assets’ business-as-usual pathway and prioritize sustainability initiatives via actionable roadmaps.

Carbon Pathfinder ingests asset and portfolio data and fills in gaps, using benchmarks and predictions powered by JLL’s deep well of industry data, enabling companies to overcome data gaps to visualize and forecast climate transition risk at the asset level and the portfolio level. Organizations can begin making decisions quickly, with imperfect information, and evolve models over time.

2. Hank: The AI solution for HVAC systems

Machine learning technology has created exciting new opportunities for improving HVAC performance. Hank, an AI-powered platform designed to optimize enterprise HVAC system performance, employs machine learning to make ongoing micro-adjustments in response to real-time conditions.

Hank maps your HVAC system and leverages AI to optimize its operation autonomously. It reduces deviation from the tenant setpoint by 80% and slashes tenant comfort requests by up to 90%. Hank also extends the life of HVAC equipment, reduces HVAC operating costs, and cuts total energy costs by 20% (typical customer outcome).

3. Building Engines: The key to enhanced indoor air quality (IAQ)

In the quest for more sustainable operations, we often overlook a critical aspect of building health and safety: indoor air quality. Building Engines, a technology solution that uses machine learning to better regulate a building’s HVAC system, also assists in improving tenants’ comfort, enhancing indoor air quality, and saving energy.

Aging buildings can benefit from this technology, since it seamlessly integrates with the current building management systems they already use. Integrating with multiple building types allows CRE teams to avoid potential capital expenses as they align the entire portfolio with new sustainability standards.

4. VergeSense: Make smart buildings smarter with occupancy data

VergeSense is an optical sensor technology that allows organizations to monitor and collect occupancy data. These sensors use deep-learning algorithms to measure real-time occupancy, delivering vital insights on space utilization in your buildings.

These insights can then align air temperature, lighting, and water heater/boiler operations with occupancy and utilization patterns. It optimizes energy consumption and the workspace, making your building more intelligent and energy-efficient.

5. InfoGrid: Your solution for measuring energy management services

InfoGrid can streamline and automate the CRE portfolio, identifying new opportunities to reduce operating costs. The tool also adds capabilities to record water movement and temperature, thereby reducing the risk of waterborne diseases.

This solution also leverages AI, data analytics, and automation to create clean, safe, healthy environments. From maintaining optimal indoor air quality and CO2 levels to automating maintenance tasks for cost efficiency, InfoGrid is a comprehensive energy management service that ensures you hit your sustainability targets.

Working seamlessly with other energy management services, InfoGrid uses AI and automation to enhance efficiency in building operations further. Real-time alerts on maintenance issues across all your assets provide new insights about environmental performance and assist in reducing energy consumption.

Turn your ESG goals into reality

Reaching ESG goals should not be delayed due to deployment, downtime, or user adoption concerns. With seasoned systems integrators like JLL Technologies by your side, barriers to energy management services and solutions become manageable challenges.

Don’t take our word for it. See why Verdantix gave us their top score for energy and sustainability management software in their latest survey of the top workplace systems integrators. The path to a sustainable future is merely a step away. Take that step today with JLL Technologies.