The Quiet Revolution in Building Controls
HVAC and access are becoming software problems.
The least glamorous systems in a building — heating, cooling, access control — are quietly becoming the highest-leverage place to deploy technology. The savings are real and they show up in the first year.
Optimization, Not Replacement
You rarely need to rip and replace. Modern control layers sit on top of existing equipment, learn occupancy patterns, and trim energy waste without anyone noticing the building got smarter.
The catch is governance: every sensor is also a question about resident privacy. The operators who win pair the technology with radical clarity about what is measured and why.
Chief economist at Cobalt Real Estate Partners. Writes the widely-read 'Built World Macro' note.
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