Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO Industrial Research Services ) has developed technology that has the potential to help building owners worldwide to reduce their energy consumption and costs dramatically. This new technology will also help to improve tenant comfort and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

BuildingIQ Energy Management Systems are now being commercialised worldwide under exclusive license by BuildingIQ Pty Ltd. BuildingIQ uses sophisticated mathematical algorithms and other advances to continuously and actively optimise the energy management control systems of buildings to achieve significant reductions in energy usage.

BuildingIQ energy management software promises to help reduce the operating expenses of building’s and improve its official National Australian Built Environment Rating System (“NABERS”) star rating.

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett announced last week that all buildings over 2000m2 must publicly disclose their energy efficiency whenever they are sold or leased starting from next year.

The technology is the result of over 15 man-years of work by scientists at CSIRO’s Energy Transformed Flagship in Newcastle.

BuildingIQ was founded by Michael Zimmerman, a former venture capitalist and technology executive, and is backed by leading Sydney venture capital firm Exto Partners.

BuildingIQ energy management software will be launched in Sydney this week with its first installation in partnership with Investa Property Group.

BuildingIQ CEO Michael Zimmerman said interest from building owners and property fund managers had been very strong.

“Owners want energy management initiatives with strong near-term ROI (return on investment) profile and limited capital requirements, so our solution is attractive. The potential to increase a building’s NABERS rating when there is such a heightened focus from investors, tenants and the Government on environmental initiatives is adding to the interest” Mr. Zimmerman said.

Last year, a trial of BuildingIQ energy management software at the CSIRO’s 4.5 star rated Newcastle Energy Centre achieved cost and energy savings of up to 30 per cent.

Craig Roussac, Investa’s General Manager of Sustainability, Safety & Environment, said he was excited about the potential for BuildingIQ energy management software to enhance the comfort of occupants while also providing environmental benefits and cost savings.

“Investa is always looking for opportunities to collaborate on new technology that delivers value to our investors and tenants. BuildingIQ is unique in its potential to maintain or improve tenant comfort while improving energy efficiency. We are looking forward to seeing the results of this initiative” Mr. Roussac said.

The initial focus for BuildingIQ is heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, which consume up to 60% of total energy in commercial buildings.

In addition to the building management control system software, BuildingIQ has the ComfortIQ add on which enables tenants to provide real-time feedback on comfort levels to the building managers and the BuildingIQ system.

ComfortIQ also broadcasts information to tenants about energy prices and the amount of energy being consumed or saved in their building.