According to recent research from Energy Digital Magazine, commercial buildings implementing smart technology are achieving 20-30% energy savings across their portfolio. And a lot of smart system integrators & providers now guarantee this as part of their offering!
For landlords, this translates into two crucial benefits: significantly reduced service charges for tenants and a clear path toward net zero goals. Yet for many property owners, the journey to these savings seems complex and costly.
Take the case of a major property fund in the UK. In 2023 they faced skyrocketing energy costs across their commercial properties. They had heard of how smart systems and prop tech could be the answer but they were apprehensive. Their challenge? Multiple supplier system vendors and supplier relationships from their many BMS solutions, all working siloed from one another and limited information available on where to start.
After a lot of tireless man hours and countless meetings with Smart Prop Tech companies they found a way forward. The Result? Across just 12 of their UK office buildings, they achieved these savings through integrated smart systems:
Smart System Implementation:
Smart Building Management
- Pre-installed high-speed internet (100Mbps to 100Gbps)
- Real-time energy monitoring and control
- Automated system optimization
- Typical savings: 10-12% of total energy costs
Smart HVAC Control
- Occupancy-based temperature management
- Zone-specific heating/cooling
- Predictive maintenance alerts
- Automated scheduling
- Typical savings: 10-15% of total energy costs
Smart Lighting Systems
- Motion-sensor controls
- Daylight harvesting technology
- Automated dimming
- Zone-based management
- Typical savings: 5-8% of total energy costs
Smart Power Management
- Real-time usage monitoring
- Automated power-down protocols
- Peak load management
- Equipment efficiency tracking
- Typical savings: 5-7% of total energy costs
Combined Impact:
- Over £400,000 in annual energy cost savings
- Up to 30% reduction in tenant service charges
- Significant reduction in carbon footprint
- Enhanced tenant satisfaction and retention
- Streamlined building management
However, it wasn’t as simple as just replacing their old BMS with new connected, smart solutions, without changing anything else. That would be like upgrading the engine in your car without changing the gearbox, brakes, tyres or anything else. Unsafe and it just won’t work.
So to implement these smart systems effectively, they needed to consider the 5 layers of Smart:
1. Requirements and Goals
Understanding your building’s specific needs and sustainability targets
2. Network Infrastructure
The foundation that enables all smart technologies to communicate
3. Hardware, Software & Integrations
The physical devices and systems that work together to create a smart environment
4. Physical & Cyber Security
Protecting both the physical infrastructure and digital assets
5. Knowledge, Education & Community
Ensuring all stakeholders, and individuals who are understand and maximise the system’s benefits.
This is where interConnect v2.0 comes in. Unlike traditional solutions that just focus on getting fibre into a building and connecting tenants, we partner with landlords to help ensure their connected and smart systems, that help them reach Net Zero, are properly connected and protected. We even work directly with smart system providers to ensure both solutions are configured to work optimally together – all at zero cost to the landlord.
Our comprehensive approach includes:
1. Zero Cost Implementation
For qualifying buildings, we install smart-ready infrastructure at no cost. Yes, you read that right – zero cost, with an installation guarantee for the tenants*. Meaning your cost savings can be passed on to the tenant, rather than being spent on getting your building a smart ready connectivity solution installed.
2. Climate Positive Impact
We don’t just aim for carbon neutral – we remove more carbon from the atmosphere than our solution produces throughout its lifetime, actively supporting your journey to net zero.
3. Future-Fast Implementation
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12-week building transformation
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A Maximum of 10 working days for tenant connection (same-day with ‘instant on’ capability)
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One upfront building-wide wayleave covering the fibre paths of all future tenants
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Latest Wi-Fi technology with 100% coverage guarantee in the lobby, which is able to expanded on across as much of the building as needed, for minimal additional cost.
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Customised, secure Wi-Fi solutions available that are purposely designed for co-working, flexi-working, public and service office environment
4. The Smart Building Advantage:
- 20-30% reduction in energy costs, directly lowering service charges
- 40% improvement in tenant satisfaction through reduced occupancy costs
- 15-25% decrease in operational costs
- Enhanced property value through improved sustainability credentials
5. Service Charge Impact
With energy typically representing 30-40% of service charges, these reductions significantly improve your building’s competitiveness in the market. Lower service charges mean:
- Increased tenant attraction
- Better retention rates
- Reduced void periods
- Stronger market position
6. Net Zero Journey
Smart technology isn’t just about savings – it’s about future-proofing your building:
- Supports green building certification requirements
- Provides data for ESG reporting
- Helps meet increasing sustainability regulations
- Demonstrates environmental leadership
Next Steps: Reach out and speak with one of our specialists. Either email enquiries@interall.co.uk or call us on +44 161 552 4882
In our experience, for landlords to keep up with their competition and tenant demand, the question isn’t whether to make your building smart-ready, but when.
Is your building smart ready and therefore future proofed? We can quickly assess this with you and tell you if you qualify for zero-cost smart infrastructure from interAll.
*If we miss an agreed installation date, tenants get their interNet service half price for the first 6 months (with a 36-month agreement).
For more information about qualifying buildings and our interConnect v2.0 solution, contact us today. Either email enquiries@interall.co.uk or call us on +44 161 552 4882
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