Make Your Property Smart With Building Automation Technology
- DrizzleX
- 5d
- 7 min read
Many buildings waste energy and money when their systems work separately. Building automation technology changes that.
It connects heating, cooling, lighting, water, and security into one coordinated network.
You can monitor system performance, spot issues early, and lower utility costs. These connected systems also create safer and more comfortable environments for occupants.
This guide will show you how automation makes properties smarter, more efficient, and ready for the future.
What Is Building Automation Technology?
Building automation technology uses a building automation system (BAS) to manage key building systems such as HVAC, lighting, air conditioning, and security systems. This can help you reduce energy costs and maintain comfort for building occupants.
Facility managers rely on automation to monitor performance, plan maintenance, and control energy consumption across all systems.
In commercial buildings, automation also supports fire safety, air quality, and access control.
How Building Automation Works
A building automation system helps lower energy costs and keep building occupants comfortable through automatic adjustments.
It includes five essential components that keep building operations organized and responsive:
Sensors: Measure temperature, humidity, room occupancy, airflow, and air quality. They collect building data and send it to a building management system (BMS) for review.
Controllers: Analyze data and decide on an action. If occupancy sensors detect an empty area, the BAS lowers air conditioning and adjusts lights to reduce energy demand.
Output devices: Carry out the commands from the controller. These include relays, valves, and air handlers that control building equipment such as fans, pumps, and lighting fixtures.
User interface: The dashboard where facility managers monitor energy usage, track alerts, and check the condition of building systems. It helps identify device failures and supports better energy management.
Communication protocols: Connect older electrical systems with modern IoT devices. They help HVAC, access control, lighting, and other systems share information through the same management system.
When these components work together, the BAS helps conserve energy, lower operational costs, and extend the life of building equipment.
Commercial buildings that use these systems often report steady energy savings and fewer maintenance problems.
Top Building Automation Technology to Try in 2025
Building automation systems are used in many types of properties, from offices to multifamily housing.
Each system helps you cut energy costs, improve comfort, and simplify building management.
1. DrizzleX—Smart Water Management & Leak Detection
Water systems often get less attention than energy systems, but they affect operational costs just as much.
A BAS can monitor water use across the property. It helps facility managers detect leaks early, prevent water loss, and protect plumbing equipment.
DrizzleX measures water flow at each fixture. It gathers building data from sinks, showers, and toilets to spot irregular use
If the system detects a leak, it sends an alert so staff can fix the issue before it causes damage.
Smart water management helps properties in several ways:
Leak detection: Small leaks often go unnoticed. Early alerts prevent damage and unnecessary water loss.
Fair billing: Water submetering tracks actual consumption instead of using estimates. This makes billing more transparent and encourages tenants to use less water.
Reduced utility costs: Lower water waste also reduces energy demand for heating. See how properties save water in buildings through proactive monitoring.
System protection: Detecting overuse helps prevent pipe wear, leaks, and flooding in high-demand areas.
2. Johnson Control Metasys—HVAC and Air Conditioning Control
Image source: johnsoncontrols.com
Building automation technology improves how HVAC systems operate by using sensors and automated control. It tracks temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels in each zone.
When sensors detect that a space is empty, the control system adjusts air flow and temperature to match demand. This keeps occupant comfort steady and helps reduce costs.
Systems such as Johnson Controls Metasys manage all HVAC units from a single interface. It gathers real-time data from chillers, boilers, and air handlers to optimize schedules and lower energy and maintenance costs.
Metasys uses control logic to coordinate various systems and prevent overuse. For example, it can reduce cooling output in one zone when another already meets temperature targets.
The BMS also flags abnormal readings that could signal filter blockages or fan malfunctions before they affect the building’s environment.
3. Lutron Athena—Lighting Control and Energy Management
Image source: lutron.com
Lighting control helps reduce energy consumption and maintain comfort inside buildings.
An energy management system connects sensors that detect occupancy and daylight levels. When a space is vacant, lights turn off automatically.
Daylight sensors balance natural and artificial light. When sunlight increases, the building control system dims or switches off indoor lights to maintain consistent lux levels.
This reduces glare and heat gain while improving building performance and energy efficiency.
The Lutron Athena system is one example of intelligent lighting control. It connects lighting, shading, and sensors into one platform.
The system supports both wired and wireless connectivity, which makes it suitable for new and older buildings.
Facility teams can monitor energy data, adjust light levels, and schedule shading changes through a single dashboard.
4. Genetec Security Center—Physical Security and Life Safety
Image source: genetec.com
Security systems protect people and property. When they operate separately, response time slows and coordination becomes harder.
A BAS connects access control, video surveillance, and alarms in one platform. This structure helps staff manage incidents faster and keep operations stable.
Genetec Security Center is an example of a unified platform that combines multiple systems controlled through one dashboard.
It manages video, door access, license plate recognition, and alarms together. The system collects data from cameras and sensors to give security teams a complete view of the situation.
When a door forces open or an alarm triggers, Security Center links the alert to the closest video feed.
Security staff can view the scene, assess the risk, and respond immediately. During a fire, it can unlock emergency exits and notify first responders.
Every event generates an audit trail that supports reporting and investigation. These records help maintain compliance and improve transparency.
Genetec also includes built-in cybersecurity protections to keep sensitive data and access points secure.
5. Honeywell—Space Utilization, IAQ, and Occupant Experience
Image source: buildings.honeywell.com
Space management and indoor air quality (IAQ) both affect how people use and experience a building.
Building automation technology helps building managers analyze these factors and make adjustments.
Occupancy analytics show how often rooms, desks, and shared spaces are used. When data highlights
low-traffic areas, managers can reassign those spaces or adjust cleaning schedules.
This approach reduces operational costs and helps optimize performance across different zones.
Air quality monitoring focuses on health and comfort. Sensors that measure carbon dioxide (CO₂) and particulate matter (PM) help the building control system adjust ventilation.
Increasing airflow when CO₂ levels rise keeps the environment healthy and stable while helping improve energy efficiency.
Honeywell supports these operations through its Occupant Experience Suite. It uses real-time data and analytics to interpret occupancy and air quality trends.
The platform provides insights that help managers plan layouts, manage hybrid work schedules, and maintain comfort levels in offices or data centers.
When occupancy data and IAQ control work together, smart buildings maintain healthy air, productive spaces, and better overall satisfaction for occupants.
Bridge Building Operations and Sustainability With DrizzleX Data
Water is often the most overlooked utility in building automation. DrizzleX helps you track every gallon across your property and turn that data into valuable insight for better building management.
Fixture-Level Monitoring That Builds Accountability
DrizzleX installs smart micrometers on each sink, shower, toilet, and washing machine. These devices record how much water flows through each fixture and send the data to the cloud for analysis.
The installation process is quick and doesn’t require any pipe changes or wall removal.
The system replaces estimates like the RUBS system with verified readings. Your tenants can see accurate water use for every unit, which promotes fairness and encourages conservation.
The Water Consumption Insights Report shows usage by fixture and unit. It highlights high-consumption areas, helps you plan maintenance, and confirms whether conservation efforts are working.
Real-Time Leak Detection and Alerts
Leaks waste water and money when they go unnoticed. DrizzleX detects running toilets, dripping faucets, and open taps that inspections often miss.
The system alerts your team with details such as fixture type, location, and gallons lost. Acting on these alerts early prevents damage and supports flood safety across the property.
AI-Powered Insights for Smarter Building Performance
DrizzleX uses AI to analyze usage patterns across your property. It compares each unit’s water data with occupancy, climate, and demand trends to identify unusual behavior.
This analysis helps you predict usage peaks, manage utilities more precisely, and maintain consistent building performance.
Turning Water Data Into a Shared Resource
The data DrizzleX collects doesn’t just help your property. It also benefits the larger water ecosystem.
You can use data gathered from DrizzleX to support:
Municipalities developing targeted conservation programs
Researchers studying usage and efficiency trends
Fixture manufacturers refining water-efficient designs
Utilities planning demand and supply scenarios
These partnerships support better water planning and help reduce the carbon footprint associated with water use.
See What DrizzleX Can Do for Your Property
Water tracking should deliver more than billing numbers. DrizzleX provides insight that helps you save money, reduce waste, and maintain safer, more accountable operations.
FAQs About Building Automation Technology
What is building automation technology?
Building automation technology uses sensors, controllers, and software to monitor and control key systems in a property. It manages HVAC, lighting, water, and security to maintain comfort and reduce waste.
These systems collect data and adjust operations automatically to improve performance and lower utility costs.
Is a BMS worth the investment?
Yes. A building management system (BMS) helps you lower operating costs by automating heating, cooling, lighting, and water systems. It also detects faults early, which reduces repair expenses and extends equipment life.
Most properties recover their investment through energy savings and better comfort for tenants.
What are the four types of automation systems?
The main types of automation systems are HVAC automation, lighting automation, water management automation, and security automation.
Each system manages specific building functions, such as temperature control, lighting levels, water flow, or access security.
Together, they create a connected network that improves building performance and reduces energy waste.
