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FROM THE EDITOR
As we’re preparing our first Technology Issue of Building Operating Management (it’ll be out in October – keep your eyes peeled!), the question has often come up: Just what is new technology in regards to building products?
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It’s easy to point to advances in lighting, controls, and building internet of things devices as new technology. And these devices, software packages, and pieces of equipment often have an inherent “cool” factor. “Hey, look, my solar shades can tell my LED light they’re down, and to dim. Pretty great, right?”
But is a new roofing material or formulation with a warranty guaranteeing it to last 40 years, instead of the standard 30 also new technology? How about a low-VOC paint with superior coverage? Or even electrochromic glass that can tint on demand?
Our take? Of course these count as new facility technology — and these and other products not traditionally considered part of “building technology” are becoming increasingly important parts of high-performance buildings.
It wasn’t too long ago, as the burgeoning high-performance and green buildings industry was gaining momentum (partially as a result of the LEED rating system helping to define exactly what a green building really was), many “green” or “high-performance” products hit the market, and were roundly boo’ed as inferior to traditional products. In many cases, these products were more expensive and didn’t last nearly as long.
That’s almost never the case anymore. Products have improved in dramatic ways. Just as the goal for buildings should be that there are no more high-performance buildings and traditional buildings — just buildings that are inherently high-performance — we’re moving rapidly to a point where it’s just assumed that new technology building products are high-performance building products.
As always, I’m interested to hear from you. Have you had success with a building product that doesn’t fit in the standard definition of new technology? What was it? Why was it successful?
Cheers,
Greg Zimmerman, editor
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