Technology Magazine September 2025 | Page 191

that creates a digital twin. The AI uses this model not just to see what’ s happening, but to predict what will happen. By integrating external data like weather forecasts, energy prices and even occupancy schedules, it can make proactive decisions, moving beyond the simple“ on / off” paradigm.
This core stack of IoT sensors providing data and AI providing intelligence is the foundational technology that unlocks a building’ s potential.
To put this into context, Johnson Controls’ advanced digital platforms are capable of processing up to a million data points each minute, enabling buildings to intelligently adapt in real time based on factors like occupancy levels, changing weather and fluctuating energy costs.
How smart buildings give back to the grid Much like data centres, buildings can put immense pressure on the grid. But by retrofitting them with building-to-grid( B2G) technology – turning them into smart buildings – they are evolving from passive energy burdens into intelligent assets.
Making a building intelligent requires a fundamental technological overhaul, moving it from a passive structure to a dynamic, data-driven ecosystem that can even generate revenue by selling electricity back to the grid.
The surge of information created by the likes of IoT sensors feeds the system’ s brain: an AI-powered platform
JOHNSON CONTROLS TECH AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY HAS LED TO A

20 %

REDUCTION IN PEAK ENERGY DEMAND AND GENERATED YEARLY SAVINGS OF

US $ 500,000

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