AI-enabled buildings can cut energy costs and help operators save on annual utility costs while also reducing their carbon footprint.
That's according to new research by Schneider Electric, which found that AI can more than double the energy savings achieved by smart building controls alone. The use of AI in buildings can cut whole-building energy use by up to 22% against traditional controls.
The research highlights annual utility savings as $13,600 to $49,300 per building at current commercial rates, helping companies reduce operating costs annually with the potential to scale across larger portfolios. It also finds the carbon avoided is more than 100 times greater than the AI system's footprint.
Smaller Buildings
The research published at Climate Week NYC 2026, also found that small and mid-sized buildings (less than 100,000 sq. ft.) stand to benefit significantly from AI-enabled optimization. Historically, energy management systems have been considered too complex or costly for smaller facilities, where dedicated facilities expertise is often limited.
By helping automate and simplify optimization, AI can make sophisticated building management more accessible, enabling ...