The LoRa Alliance recently announced that smart buildings have emerged as the fastest-growing vertical market for LoRaWAN deployments, based on information provided by members. Key applications driving a rapid return on investment (ROI) for building owners include energy and operational efficiency, environmental monitoring, and preventive maintenance. Legislation, such as France’s BACS decree, imposes a gradual reduction in energy consumption, is also accelerating activity in this sector.
“The smart building market has truly taken off this year as major building management companies have realised substantial benefits on the back of LoRaWAN deployments,” said Alper Yegin, CEO of the LoRa Alliance. “Research from Transforma Insights shows that LPWAN technologies such as LoRaWAN will collectively grow from 439 million in 2024 to approaching 1.8 billion in 2034. LoRaWAN adoption has skyrocketed in the smart buildings sector because operators realise the benefits it offers alongside a strong ROI once solutions are implemented.”
Building management has historically relied on wired systems, but these are now being replaced with wireless technologies that deliver faster, more flexible deployment. Among the available options, LoRaWAN stands out as the only wireless technology that can penetrate walls while maintaining low-power consumption. This unique combination is what makes LoRaWAN stand out within the smart building industry and what has accelerated adoption, enabling new levels of operational efficiency and connectivity in the smart building environment.
LoRaWAN networks easily co-exist with other wireless networks, as they are complementary to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5G, and RFID, among other technologies, further enhancing their suitability for smart building applications. With the technology’s ability to integrate seamlessly into building management system standards like BACnet, KNX, Modbus, and similar environments, LoRaWAN allows for a quick path to modernising and upgrading older facilities while retaining the value of existing building management systems. Benefits are equally significant for new construction, with a wide range of certified sensors available to better manage building environments, energy use, utilisation, and more.
Recent deployments
Verizon Business has launched Verizon Sensor Insights at the State Farm Arena, where the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks play. The solution enables real-time monitoring of IoT-enabled sensors for operational efficiency. Verizon Sensor Insights supports multiple IoT protocols, including LoRaWAN, allowing users to manage sensors, gateways, and connectivity from a centralised portal for optimised decision making.
Milesight and Tridium have integrated Milesight’s advanced IoT sensing capabilities with Tridium’s Niagara Framework. The goal is to simplify system integration and improve overall efficiency in smart building projects, helping customers reduce time spent on system learning, configuration, and deployment.
In Dubai, a commercial building implemented Milesight’s LoRaWAN smart lighting control system to enhance energy efficiency and operational convenience. Utilising IoT technology, the building achieved a 25% reduction in lighting energy consumption within one month, saving approximately 11,000 hours of lighting use monthly.
TEKTELIC’s KONA Micro Gateway offers strong indoor coverage (up to 4 concrete floors), battery backup, and remote provisioning to rapidly enable property managers to meet New York City’s new gas safety regulation (Local Law 157), which requires natural gas alarms in all rooms with gas appliances.
“Given the projected growth in smart buildings over the next five years, LoRaWAN solution providers are extremely well-positioned to capitalise on this growth and bring sustaining value to this sector,” concluded Yegin.
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