AI-enabled building systems could reduce whole-building energy use by up to 22%, according to new research from Schneider Electric.
The study found AI-driven heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) optimisation could deliver an additional 7.2% to 12.7% in energy savings when deployed through smart building management systems.
Some buildings could save more than 200MWh of electricity, while avoiding up to 60 tonnes of carbon emissions each year. The research estimates annual utility savings of between £10,000 to £36,000 per building with current energy rates.
The research examined building scenarios in Australia, India and the US, combining energy modelling with data from real-world pilot projects.
Pankaj Sharma, EVP of Software & Services at Schneider Electric, said: “The future of building management will be defined by how effectively organisations connect and contextualise data that was previously trapped in silos.
“An AI layer on top of existing business systems can turn complexity into intelligence and intelligence into action, reducing emissions, lowering costs and improving performance simultaneously.”
According to the findings, AI-enabled optimisation could also more than double the energy savings achieved by smart building controls alone.
It found smaller buildings could particularly benefit, with AI potentially making advanced energy management more accessible where dedicated facilities expertise is limited.
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