Building Management Systems (BMS), have been around for over half a century. They manage a range of complex buildings such as offices, schools, universities, train stations, airports, stadiums, museums, hospitals. The list goes on.  Yet most people don’t even know what a BMS is, let alone heard of one!

So what is a Building Management System?

A Building Management System is essentially a very expensive computer which runs either on Linux or Windows. Usually the hardware, which some could mistake for a server, is stuck in a building’s basement.

What does a BMS do? It controls a buildings HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning), elevators, alarm systems, automatic doors, sensors, etc.

The reason most people have not heard of a “Building Management System” is very simple. A BMS is not used in single houses or common residential buildings as these buildings are not complex to manage. Additionally, a BMS costs upwards of EUR 100’000.- to install.

In short, BMS are quite good at what they are set up to do. They usually run smoothly and discretely and to an average person there is no difference between a building with a BMS and one without.

Yet BMS have a major setback, which makes this industry ripe for disruption!

In Part 2, we will dive deeper into some issues with BMS.

Stay tuned!

#energy #BMS #real estate