Global smart building trends shaping the future of real estate 

Smart buildings are revolutionizing the real estate industry by seamlessly integrating advanced technologies like sensors, automation, and data analytics. This leads to enhanced sustainability, increased productivity, and substantial cost savings. At JLL Spark Global Ventures, we closely monitor these trends on a worldwide scale, recognizing the overarching priority of energy efficiency and sustainability. Across the globe, there is a shared emphasis on harnessing the power of the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) to elevate tenant experiences, enhance cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data, and streamline building operations. However, it’s important to recognize that specific trends and priorities can vary across regions. Let’s take a closer look at the various smart building trends that are influencing each market. 

North America: Energy efficiency

In North America, the emphasis is on optimizing energy usage through the implementation of sensors, analytics, and automation. By integrating these systems, real-time monitoring and control are achieved, resulting in improved sustainability and reduced operational costs. Additionally, a strong focus is placed on tenant well-being, with features like circadian lighting as well as indoor air quality maintenance and improvement integrated into smart buildings. Buildings deploying renewable energy sources like solar panels and incorporating energy storage systems benefit from operational and cost savings, while reducing dependency on traditional energy sources and enhancing sustainability. 

Latin America: Building smart cities 

In Latin America, smart city initiatives have emerged, implementing innovative technologies for sustainability and transportation. Energy management and the integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar power, take center stage in smart building developments. By prioritizing these aspects, Latin America aims to create more sustainable and efficient urban environments. 

Latin American cities, like Mexico City and Guadalajara, lead the way in urgent climate action, collaborating through networks like C40 to transition to green economies. Smart building developments prioritize innovative technologies for sustainable transportation and energy management, with a focus on integrating renewable energy sources like solar power. This concerted effort aims to create sustainable and efficient urban environments across the region. 

EMEA: Energy management and sustainability

Smart buildings in EMEA prioritize energy management, leveraging advanced sensors, metering systems, and analytics. This leads to improved energy efficiency, reduced operational costs, and compliance with regional energy regulations. Sustainable practices are also key, with renewable energy sources, waste management systems, and green building certifications integrated into smart buildings. 

The Middle East is spearheading smart city initiatives, such as giga project NEOM, with a strong focus on sustainability. The giga project includes energy-efficient buildings, renewable energy sources, and effective waste management strategies. Harnessing the advantage of existing infrastructure gaps, the Middle East is poised to surpass current standards and spearhead the future of smart cities. 

VergeSense is an example of a technology solution used in EMEA, providing accurate workplace data and AI-enabled recommendations to optimize spaces, reduce costs, ensure sustainability, and improve employee experience.  

APAC: Enhancing security, scalability, and climate resilience 

APAC smart buildings employ advanced security systems, such as biometrics, facial recognition, and real-time video analytics, to enhance safety and access control. Rapid urbanization in recent years has resulted in an emphasis on scalable and standardized smart building solutions for seamless integration. This focus enables the creation of future-proof and easily upgradable buildings. The diverse and extreme weather conditions in the Asia Pacific region drive the adoption of smart building technologies focused on energy efficiency and resilience. 

”The region’s susceptibility to typhoons, monsoons, heatwaves, and earthquakes has driven the rapid adoption of these cutting-edge solutions, setting it apart from other areas with different climate patterns,” says Carolyn Trickett, JLL Spark Growth Principal in APAC. An example of a technology solution addressing climate-related challenges is Safehub, a sensor which provides building damage and financial loss information, supporting decision-making during post-earthquake scenarios.  

The role of technology solutions

As the urgency of climate change grows, addressing climate-related challenges and prioritizing climate resilience becomes crucial. Collaboration among stakeholders is fundamental to successfully implementing resilience measures. Smart building solutions, such as predictive maintenance systems, real-time data analytics tools, and IoT-enabled sensors, will play a leading role in proactively identifying risks and optimizing building performance in the face of climate change. Embracing these technologies is essential for achieving sustainability goals and ensuring a resilient future for our built environment. 

Written by Sonia El-Sherif, Chief of Staff at JLL Spark

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