| The culture in the real estate industry is creating | | | | are the establishment and do not want things to |
| obstacles that are driving up initial construction costs | | | | change. |
| and negatively impacting sustainable operations. | | | | The result is that the industry is ignoring the |
| Architects & engineers are hyper-focused on the | | | | opportunities available by the adoption of newer |
| construction effort, and technology is less than 5% | | | | technologies for base building systems. It's just too |
| of that effort. These professionals have bigger | | | | difficult to get past the current formats & processes. |
| concerns; even a 15-20% swing in such a small | | | | The "pressure" being applied by the established |
| portion of the overall budget has little impact. | | | | players keeps owners deploying segmented systems, |
| Architects & engineers do not understand the critical, | | | | which are limiting functionality & expandability and |
| long-term importance of technology. They have fallen | | | | driving up costs. |
| into the habit of allowing equipment manufacturers to | | | | Now owners are beginning to feel the impacts of this |
| provide specification language. This is how equipment | | | | culture as they continue to pay excessive amounts |
| controllers, meters & sensors have been procured | | | | for next-generation buildings that don't really deliver |
| for the last 20+ years. The manufacturers have | | | | the expected functionality. Owners are currently |
| taken advantage of this opportunity to drive profit, | | | | beginning to understand the reality; that the current |
| control and influence towards themselves, while | | | | design & construction teams are unwilling to learn and |
| taking visibility, options, savings, & functionality away | | | | are not financially motivated to embrace change. |
| from owners. | | | | Owners are taking charge, as the only member of |
| The current culture is not driven by the owners, | | | | the design team with the long-term view. They are |
| property managers, and tenants that will utilize the | | | | engaging new professionals with experience & |
| facility long-term; in fact, they are primarily kept out | | | | expertise to educate themselves and bring innovative |
| of the construction process. It is being driven by | | | | ideas to projects. Owners that want to receive the |
| architects & engineers that just keep doing what is | | | | benefits of next-generation solutions are challenging |
| "comfortable" from their past. The current architect | | | | the current culture to make sure that a technology |
| & engineering professionals in the industry are not | | | | plan is implemented early, which not only acquires the |
| motivated either financially nor have the expertise to | | | | right technology but also addresses the "real world" |
| look at the long-term benefits of new ideas. They | | | | challenges of getting things done efficiently. |