The IoT will become increasingly important in the operations of commercial buildings

The Internet of Things will become increasingly important in the operations of commercial buildings, keeping operating costs down, increasing building efficiencies, and improving employee satisfaction with their work environment. As one small example, if air conditioning repairs can be made before the unit breaks due to sensors and new technology, this can save money. If costs can be reduced by not lighting or conditioning unoccupied office space, this will be another benefit. Security can be enhanced with IoT. Systems can be programed for ideal occupant temperatures. Even sensors that let janitorial know when paper towels need to be replenished can save money and reduce inconvenience. “According to Pruitt, commercial buildings are much more connected today than we think they are. Quoting a study from Memoori on Smart Buildings, he says there were roughly 1 billion connected devices in 2017; by 2019, the number will jump to 2.2 billion; and by 2021, there will be 3.9 billion connected devices.” (SIOR Report, Fall 2018)