New commercial buildings are increasingly using LEDs and emerging energy management technologies

According to the US Energy Information Administration, commercial buildings in the US are increasingly adopting functions such as LED lighting and emerging technologies such as electric vehicle charging stations.

Commercial buildings are also getting bigger and bigger, and the total construction area has increased by 11%. From 2012 to 2018, the number of commercial buildings in the United States increased by 6%.

The preliminary results of the EIA 2018 Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey found that:

-More than 2.5 million commercial buildings used LED lights, 5 times the number of buildings using LEDs in 2012;

--68% of buildings use standard fluorescent lights, down from 84% in 2012; the proportion of commercial buildings using LED lighting has increased from 9% in 2012 to 44% in 2018.

-Large commercial buildings are most likely to have electric vehicle charging stations; more than one-third of buildings over 500,000 square feet have electric vehicle charging stations. Accommodation and service buildings are most likely to install electric vehicle charging stations;

--About 10% of commercial buildings and 30% of commercial buildings can generate electricity. All in-patient medical buildings use power generation technology;

--It is estimated that 5% of buildings use smart thermostats.

Energy use of commercial buildings

Electricity is the most commonly used energy source in commercial buildings. The survey found that 95% of buildings use it, accounting for 98% of the total building area. Half of commercial buildings and more than two-thirds of the building area (70%) use natural gas.

Natural gas is most commonly used for space heating; electricity is mainly used for cooling.

"How commercial buildings consume energy has a significant impact on the U.S. energy sector," said Steve Nalley, Acting Administrator of EIA. "CBECS data shows that as commercial buildings continue to expand, they are also adopting new technologies and practices that help improve energy efficiency."

A recent report shows that by 2027, North America’s intelligent building automation software and systems will reach US$20.5 billion. As urbanization leads to more and more intelligent cities, buildings are an integral part of the urban ecosystem. Research and market reports point out that smart buildings can bring better economic results for owners and users, and improve the satisfaction, safety and well-being of occupants.