Real Estate: Commercial

>>In some workplaces, the temperature is always even from room to room, lighting comes on automatically when and where it's needed, and employees feel safe, even when they're alone and working late.

With varying levels of automation, not only can "smart buildings" make their occupants more comfortable, they can save their owners money in the long run.

Simply put, "smart buildings take the everyday mechanical systems and bring them into the IT world," says Greg Presley, president of the Naples-based building-automation company New IQ. "One of the benefits to tenants is comfort. They know that when they come in at 8 a.m. the temperature will be the same and the lights will be on."

While some building owners elect to have a building-automation system installed for a single item, such as lighting, security surveillance or communication systems, others could choose to add everything from temperature and ventilation control to electronic access, elevator control and energy management. This automated system then can be accessed through a single control, either on-site or remotely via the Internet.

Although this technology has been offered in Southwest Florida for at least six years, only a handful of building owners have installed it, most for a single item. Even fewer have created entire smart buildings.

"Most of it is just cost-related. To be able to provide ubiquitous coverage for the entire building becomes very costly," says Chris Patrick, vice president of network operations for Synergy Systems, which specializes in the integration of voice and data information.

Unity Data & Electrical Services' installation cost varies according to the size of the project and the degree of automation, but can run anywhere from $15 to $20 per square foot to create a smart building, says Joe Valerio, the company's managing director and vice president.