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GUEST SUBMISSION: As Canadians enter the end of winter and energy bills remain elevated, businesses across the country face a familiar challenge: how to keep buildings comfortable and operational while managing costs and meeting increasingly urgent sustainability commitments.
For many corporate real estate executives and facility managers, the path to greener buildings can seem daunting, requiring perfect conditions, substantial capital, or comprehensive regulatory frameworks before taking action.
Here’s the reality: buildings account for nearly 39 per cent of global energy-related carbon emissions, and in Canada, commercial spaces are a major contributor. The good news? Smarter automation, visibility and controls, what we increasingly refer to as energy intelligence, can enable meaningful improvements today.
The urgency is real, and so are the solutions
Rising energy costs and mounting pressure to meet ESG goals have transformed energy visibility and efficiency from environmental aspirations into business imperatives. Against the backdrop of Canada's net-zero commitments and growing corporate sustainability expectations, the question isn't whether to act, but how to begin.
Starting small, thinking strategic
The key is establishing visibility first. You can't improve what you can't measure. Modern building management platforms provide the baseline data needed to identify low-hanging fruit. Those quick wins that deliver immediate impact without requiring massive capital expenditure.
At Schneider Electric, we’ve designed solutions that meet organizations where they are — whether managing a single site or an entire portfolio. For retail operations and small-to-medium buildings, EcoStruxure Building Activate delivers an Internet of Things-powered, vendor-agnostic platform that simplifies deployment, cuts energy waste and enhances occupant comfort.
For large or mission-critical facilities, EcoStruxure Building Operation and Advisor integrate HVAC, lighting, security and energy systems to enable predictive efficiency and smarter decision-making.
The advantage platforms like these is flexibility: start small, achieve quick wins and scale as your needs and ambitions grow. The technology adapts to your journey — not the other way around.
The path forward
As winter energy demand peaks and occupant comfort challenges intensify, there's no better time to begin. The technology exists. The business case is clear. The environmental imperative is urgent.
Canadian businesses don't need to wait for perfect regulations, unlimited budgets, or comprehensive transformation plans. Progress, not perfection, is the path to greener spaces. By taking practical steps today, establishing energy visibility, identifying opportunities, and implementing strategic improvements — organizations can deliver meaningful results for their bottom line, their occupants, and the planet.
Smart Building solutions are helping Canadian businesses modernize assets, reduce emissions, and build a more resilient future.
The question isn't whether sustainable buildings are achievable. It's whether we're ready to take the first step.
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