Colorado-based Switch Automation, a provider of smart building software, has added capabilities to Switch OpX, developed with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, to evolve smart building technology from identifying issues to automating the implementation of operational improvements.

In a paper, they highlight how these software advances are enabling buildings to move beyond traditional fault detection and diagnostics towards automated fault correction and control optimisation at scale.

While conventional analytics platforms typically deliver energy savings of around 9%, research from the US Department of Energy suggests that up to 29% savings are achievable through improved control and operations. The joint work between Switch Automation and Berkeley Lab demonstrates how this performance gap can be significantly reduced by enabling systems not only to detect inefficiencies but act on them.

“This collaboration reflects a broader shift in the industry,” said Jessica Granderson, senior scientist at Berkeley Lab (www.lbl.gov). “We are moving from insight-driven tools to systems that can directly support operational improvements in a scalable and practical way.”

The research builds on real-world deployments, including a programme delivered with global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield (www.cushmanwakefield.com) across six commercial properties in the USA. The implementation demonstrated energy savings estimated to exceed 10%, equating to more than $290,000 in annual cost reductions, while improving operational consistency and occupant comfort.

At the core of this advancement is Switch Automation’s ability to integrate data across diverse building systems and apply a semantically enriched data layer that provides context to building operations. This structured foundation enables applications to be deployed rapidly across portfolios and allows users to interact with, and act on, their data without requiring complex changes to underlying building automation systems.

“Smart buildings have long been constrained by fragmented data and limited ability to act on insights,” said Deborah Noller, CEO of Switch Automation. “This work with Berkeley Lab demonstrates what becomes possible when you combine a strong data foundation with scalable software, buildings that can continuously optimise themselves, not just report problems.”

Switch Automation has been an active contributor to industry initiatives focused on improving data interoperability and standardisation, including the Brick ontology, which underpins many emerging approaches to scalable building data modelling.

With this work, Switch Automation validaties the role of independent data platforms and open standards in enabling smart, energy-efficient buildings. As building owners and operators face increasing pressure to reduce costs, improve performance and manage complex portfolios, the ability to move from insight to action is expected to play a critical role in achieving these outcomes.

Switch Automation (www.switchautomation.com) is a provider of smart building software that helps organisations digitise and decarbonise their building portfolios. The platform integrates data from building systems, energy meters and IoT devices to deliver portfolio-wide visibility, analytics and operational control across commercial real estate, retail, healthcare and financial services environments.

To read the paper, go to drive.google.com/file/d/1gdYIJRUdnWwXOxPGOyebddDPezQUSmb0/view.