Building the Future of Building Maintenance Systems

In 1985, the Robert Zemeckis’ blockbuster success, Back to the Future, landed in theaters. The movie thrilled audiences with its nostalgic view of the past (1950s) and its futuristic predictions of the future, like 24-hour-a-day news stations. This might sound twisted, but I love the moment when Biff repeatedly thwaps George McFly on the forehead saying, “Hello McFly!” It’s my battle cry when I’m missing something obvious. I imagine Biff’s finger tapping my forehead. It’s then that I think about smart apartments, IoT, and ask myself, what we are really missing? Eeh gads! Building maintenance systems (BMS). Most of us now have a few years of experience with smart technology. We know the value— and heartburn—of smart thermostats, locks, lighting, and leak detection. We’ve barked at Google Home and Alexa, begging it to answer a question or turn something on—or at the very least, we know someone who has told us about the experience in detail. We’ve been pitched on the potential savings in utilities for both resident and owner, to better control turnover expense. While these are good things, Biff is still tapping my forehead, “Hello Mary, what about the building?” Consider the most recent round of construction and the focus on sustainability and well-being. In many cases, there are expenses that are entirely owner-paid (like house electric), which can comprise approximately 22 percent of total utility spend. If you compare this to the cost of turnover, which is typically less than 5 percent of total utility spend, it looks like we have an opportunity to dream bigger. Have you looked at your building’s systems and fixtures lately? They are commercial-grade systems, yet the apartment industry has yet to integrate the same management controls that the commercial real estate industry has been using for over four decades. Yes. BMS has already been around since the 80s. Think about it. If...