Johnson Controls' 14th annual Energy Efficiency Indicator survey (December 2020) indicates that more than half of surveyed organizations plan to increase investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy and smart building technology in 2021.
Seventy-five percent of respondents said their organizations have invested in the integration of security systems with other building technology systems, a 36% increase from the 2019 study. Elements described as “extremely important drivers of investment” include:
· Reducing energy costs
· Protecting the health and safety of occupants during emergencies
· Improving indoor air quality by increasing air filtration, installing air treatment systems, and/or increasing outdoor air ventilation
· Increasing the flexibility of facilities
· Integrating building technology systems with distributed energy resources
The study also found that during the pandemic in 2020, less than 10% of facilities reduced energy use more than 20%, indicating a potential opportunity for additional savings through energy efficiency investments in 2021.