Data centers are the backbone of modern business and consumer applications, hosting vast amounts of information in the cloud. Everything from Artificial Intelligence (AI) use cases to online gaming platforms rely on data centers for proper data storage and management. As the world becomes more digitally native, data centers will generate higher Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and deplete more of Earth’s natural resources. This makes the need for green data centers all the more dire as governments race to meet global sustainability goals.
Every week, countless technology stories emerge across industries around the world. However, identifying and reading each development can be challenging while balancing your other day-to-day tasks. But if you want to stay ahead in your industry and evaluate the most promising technology solutions for your organization, it’s vital to keep up with the latest and greatest tech.
Making buildings more energy-efficient or even net zero is a vital aspect of creating a more sustainable world. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), 30% of global energy consumption comes from building operations. Therefore, minimizing the energy footprint of buildings is the logical first step in reducing emissions and addressing climate change. Making commercial and residential buildings energy efficient introduces the following benefits:
Several ABI Research analysts made the trip to Las Vegas in January for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024. Although geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions continue to cast a shadow over the technology world, CES 2024 had no shortage of excitement and optimism. Our analysts heard plenty of talks from vendors and enterprise end users about investments, partnerships, new technology adoption, and applications. If you missed CES 2024, we would like to share intriguing highlights from five of our analysts who attended the show, each covering a different technology area.
Smart building platforms are software-based solutions that help real estate owners improve operational efficiency and reduce their carbon emissions. The key to making this happen is the collection of data from various endpoints (connected devices), leading to improved lighting control, occupancy sensing, and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC). Not only do smart building platforms collect droves of essential data about energy usage and operational flows, but they can automate many aspects of building management. The top six companies providing smart building platforms allow organizations to meet sustainability goals and reduce their energy costs.
Networked Lighting Control (NLC) "connected lighting" systems are at the forefront of smart technologies available to building owners and tenants, as well as energy companies and regulators, as they look to improve the efficiency and appeal of their commercial buildings. NLCs deliver automated and dynamic lighting networks that optimize energy consumption by connecting with sensors throughout a property. Connectivity is the next step in driving energy savings from upgraded lighting capabilities. The still ongoing switch to Light-Emitting Diode (LED) luminaires from traditional bulbs can bring a 50% energy use reduction. NLC leverages LED to enable dynamic light dimming and operation to ensure lights are only on as needed. Key to such control is lighting level and occupancy sensors, but the NLC system can be extended beyond just efficient lighting to provide a backbone for a host of other connected applications, such as indoor location services for asset tracking in a warehouse or product discovery in retail stores.
Urban surveillance is crucial for public health monitoring, public safety, and solving crimes. However, security cameras can easily pick up irrelevant information in the motion video feed, causing false alarms and a host of privacy concerns. A vital security tool used for safeguarding these sensitive data is privacy masking.
The construction industry is one of the world’s largest consumers of resources (sand and building materials) and produces significant waste. Around 40% of global energy consumption can be linked directly to buildings. This sustainability challenge makes the role of smart buildings paramount to meeting zero-emission initiatives worldwide.
More than 50,000 technology innovators and decision makers rely on ABI Research for deep insight and analysis of transformational technologies and key markets. In addition, we also provide an impartial and expert perspective on the companies that are shaping these technologies and industries.
