Susanne Seitz, CEO, Siemens Buildings Smart Infrastructure asks whether building owners are in a position to take advantage of AI?
In commercial buildings worldwide, billions of pounds are being wasted every year through a hidden inefficiency that persists even in the smartest facilities: systems that simply don't know what they don't know.
The problem with assumptions
Consider the typical office building on a Monday morning. Traditional systems activate at 8am sharp, regardless of whether it's a public holiday, whether half the staff are working remotely, or whether an unseasonable heatwave has already warmed the building naturally. Even "smart" thermostats often react only to temperature changes, missing the broader context that could prevent waste before it occurs.
While HVAC systems account for over half of total energy consumption in most commercial buildings, the majority still operate on outdated assumptions. They heat empty offices, cool vacant floors, and maintain rigid schedules that bear no resemblance to actual occupancy patterns. The infrastructure is sophisticated, but the intelligence directing it remains surprisingly primitive.
The AI advantage
This replaces the old approach entirely. By creating dynamic feedback loops between live data streams and predictive algorithms, intelligent systems can anticipate needs rather than simply react to problems. This isn't speculative technology. It's being deployed at scale today, delivering measurable results from the moment it's switched on.
The next breakthrough in building efficiency will come from artificial intelligence that transforms how buildings think.
Real world results
Take Siemens' Comfort AI within our Building X platform as a concrete example. Every quarter-hour, the system simultaneously processes live data from heating and cooling setpoints, zone temperatures, valve positions, and central plant operations. It integrates weather forecasts, occupancy patterns, and equipment performance data to calculate optimal settings for each zone in real-time.
Unlike systems that require months of "learning," this AI applies proven logic immediately. Buildings see energy savings of approximately 6.5 percent from day one. This comes on top of the 30 percent efficiency gains already achievable through conventional digital controls and automation. For a large commercial building, this translates to tens of thousands of pounds in annual savings.
Portfolio scale intelligence
The transformative power of AI becomes even more apparent when scaled across building portfolios. Traditional building management relies heavily on individual expertise and site-specific knowledge. When that engineer leaves or gets reassigned, performance often degrades. AI democratises efficiency by embedding proven logic into every system.
For organisations managing extensive real estate portfolios, this means unprecedented consistency. Insights and optimisation strategies proven at one site can be instantly applied across hundreds of others. Facility teams can focus on exceptions rather than routine adjustments, while the AI handles continuous optimisation behind the scenes. The result is better energy performance that doesn't drift over time.
Turning pressure into progress
Energy reduction pressure has never been more intense. Rising costs, stricter regulations, and corporate net zero commitments create a perfect storm of demand for efficiency. Good intentions alone won't deliver results. Execution separates leaders from laggards.
AI offers something unique in this landscape: the ability to deliver substantial improvements without requiring fundamental infrastructure changes. The best AI systems integrate seamlessly with existing building management systems, requiring no disruption to operations while delivering immediate, measurable results.
This amplifies human expertise rather than replacing it. While AI handles continuous micro-adjustments and pattern recognition at inhuman scale, facility managers can focus on strategic decisions, preventive maintenance, and long-term optimisation.
The opportunity ahead
We're at an inflection point in building technology. The convergence of cloud computing, advanced sensors, and machine learning algorithms has reached the maturity needed for widespread deployment. Early adopters are already seeing the benefits, but the opportunity extends far beyond the technology leaders.
The buildings that will define the next decade are intelligently efficient. They adapt continuously, learn from their environment, and optimise automatically. They meet today's performance standards while anticipating tomorrow's demands.
The transformation has already begun. The question is how quickly organisations will embrace the advantage AI offers. For those ready to move from rigid systems to responsive intelligence, the time is now.