According to BCS/2010, the latest market analysis from BCS Partners, cautious optimism prevails for the near future. The Building Automation Market took a serious hit in 2009 but modest growth is expected in 2010-2011. This marketplace, however, is not forecast to regain its pre-crisis level until 2012. BCS/2010 is the 6th edition of this widely used market analysis since 1993.
Unfortunately, new building construction, particularly in the office building segment, is not expected to provide growth. Existing building retrofits, while still the source of 70-75% of the market, are not growing as fast as they should, primarily, as the authors of BCS/2010 argue, because smaller building owners are still not sufficiently aware of the benefits available. Larger buildings and campuses as well as national franchises tend to have on staff engineers and analysts with the knowledge and resources to use available technology to reduce costs, but not the great number of smaller buildings which still have little or no advanced building automation in place or even planned. In several previous articles the authors have suggested the BAS manufacturers should spend more of their marketing communication investment on building owner education rather than on competitive technical advantages, which are not a prime concern of these owners.
On the side of positive growth are the many technological advances, primarily wireless data sensors and transmitters, which are rapidly moving from skepticism to accepted reliable solutions. The installation savings and flexibility provided will dramatically increase the numbers and types of system improvements that can and will be instituted to provide greater savings in comfort, productivity and preventive maintenance in addition to ever more efficient energy management. Integrating the BAS into overall enterprise management is going to further justify additional investment.
Unfortunately, new building construction, particularly in the office building segment, is not expected to provide growth. Existing building retrofits, while still the source of 70-75% of the market, are not growing as fast as they should, primarily, as the authors of BCS/2010 argue, because smaller building owners are still not sufficiently aware of the benefits available. Larger buildings and campuses as well as national franchises tend to have on staff engineers and analysts with the knowledge and resources to use available technology to reduce costs, but not the great number of smaller buildings which still have little or no advanced building automation in place or even planned. In several previous articles the authors have suggested the BAS manufacturers should spend more of their marketing communication investment on building owner education rather than on competitive technical advantages, which are not a prime concern of these owners.
On the side of positive growth are the many technological advances, primarily wireless data sensors and transmitters, which are rapidly moving from skepticism to accepted reliable solutions. The installation savings and flexibility provided will dramatically increase the numbers and types of system improvements that can and will be instituted to provide greater savings in comfort, productivity and preventive maintenance in addition to ever more efficient energy management. Integrating the BAS into overall enterprise management is going to further justify additional investment.
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