When a Building Begins to Understand Itself

Buildings are a key part of the energy transition, accounting for around 30 percent of global energy consumption. Their performance depends not only on the quality of façades and windows or the efficiency of individual devices, but increasingly on how lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and energy metering systems communicate with one another and operate as an integrated whole.

Opportunities for savings are often hidden in the day-to-day operation of a building – in an empty meeting room being heated as if it were full, lights remaining on when there is sufficient daylight, or ventilation operating at full capacity regardless of the number of occupants. Seemingly small and almost imperceptible, such losses accumulate over time, becoming a significant energy and financial cost. Making them visible is the first step towards more precise and responsible energy management.

The Building as a Whole, Not a Sum of Systems

ABB Ability™ BuildingPro is based on the idea that a building is an interconnected energy and functional ecosystem. It is an open, cyber-secure platform that brings together different technical systems and turns their data into clear, actionable information for day-to-day facility management.

“Buildings are becoming increasingly connected and data-rich, yet many owners and operators still face the challenge of turning that data into consistent performance across their entire portfolio. In practice, we rarely encounter a building whose systems were installed at the same time and speak the same technical language. Lighting, HVAC, and energy metering therefore often operate independently. The problem is not a lack of data, but the fact that the data is not connected.

With the launch of the ABB Ability™ BuildingPro Suites, we have taken an important step toward the future of intelligent, energy-efficient buildings. The platform turns building data into concrete actions that deliver energy savings, greater sustainability, and a better user experience, with the flexibility to apply it to anything from a single building to an entire portfolio.

BuildingPro Edge acts as a translator: it connects KNX, BACnet, Modbus, LonWorks, and MQTT protocols, while openBOS® provides data context. Our vision is for BuildingPro to be present in an increasing number of new and existing buildings across Serbia – from office buildings and hotels to hospitals, public institutions and industrial facilities.

I would like energy efficiency to be something we address not only during the design or renovation phase, but every day. That is when a smart building will no longer be a privilege of the most advanced facilities, but an expected standard,” says Vanja Dugošija, Sales Manager for Buildings, Infrastructure and Transportation at ABB Serbia.

When KNX and BMS Work as One

The practical value of connectivity can be seen in the example of ABB i-bus® KNX and ABB Cylon® BMS solutions. KNX manages lighting, shading and room temperature, while ABB Cylon® focuses on HVAC systems.

On a sunny winter day, the sun may already be warming an office, yet the heating system can continue operating according to its predefined settings while the lighting remains at full output. A connected system takes daylight levels, temperature, blind position, and occupancy into account.

Once employees leave, the space switches to a more efficient operating mode: it maintains comfort while reducing unnecessary energy use. In hotels, the system coordinates operation with room occupancy, while in hospitals it adapts to the requirements of different zones. Efficiency and comfort are not conflicting objectives – effective management improves both.

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When Data Provides a Warning Before a Failure

Through a web browser, BuildingPro Vision displays floor plans, equipment status, alarms, schedules and trends. This enables technical teams to identify not only that a problem exists, but also where to look for its cause.

If a fan starts consuming more energy without any change in its operating mode, the trend data may point to a clogged filter or another irregularity. If a space fails to reach the set temperature, a combined view of system operation and measured values can help identify the problem before a more serious failure occurs.

Maintenance thus becomes less reactive and more predictive. Schedules can be configured for an entire building, floor or room and adapted to working hours, weekends and holidays. BuildingPro Editor enables system integrators to configure protocols and connect data to equipment, while KNX Space Commissioning provides a graphical way to place KNX devices on floor plans.

Alongside promoting the BuildingPro platform, ABB Serbia is also investing in developing a local ecosystem of experts and partners that can support the design, integration, and implementation of solutions. This approach enables more efficient project delivery and ensures that solutions can be adapted to existing infrastructure and users’ operational requirements.

From a Single Building to an Entire Portfolio

BuildingPro Vision is designed for day-to-day monitoring, while BuildingPro Suites takes data to the level of an individual building or a group of buildings. It transforms information from automation, HVAC, energy, IT, OT, and IoT systems into dashboards, analytical insights, and predictive tools.

A retail chain owner can compare the energy consumption of similar stores and identify a facility that is consuming more than expected. The reason may not be outdated equipment, but a different operating schedule or poorly configured settings. Best practices identified in one building can then be transferred to others, while reliable data makes it easier to track sustainability targets and prepare ESG reports.

The open architecture also protects the investment’s long-term value: existing systems can connect to future applications rather than creating another technology silo. Access is based on user roles, applications are digitally signed, data storage is encrypted, and the owner retains control over the data.

A Smart Building Tailored to the User

Every building has its own purpose, infrastructure, and usage patterns – there is no single configuration that works for everyone. The best measure of success is therefore not the number of sensors or dashboards, but what users barely notice: a comfortable environment, good air quality, reliable system operation, and less wasted energy.

That is when technology truly fulfills its purpose – working in the background while the building better serves both its occupants and the environment.

ABB

The story was published in Energy portal Magazine SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE