The business case for energy management in high-tech industries

The high-technology sector – characterized by facilities such as laboratories, cleanrooms, and data centers – is often where innovation first occurs. These facilities are sometimes referred to as the “racecars” of the buildings sector because new technologies and strategies to increase performance often trickle down to other building types. Although these facilities are up to 100 times as energy-intensive as conventional buildings, highly cost-effective energy efficiency opportunities are often overlooked. Facility engineers are in the trenches identifying opportunities to improve energy productivity but often are unable to make the broader business case to financial decision makers. This article presents the technical opportunities for reducing energy costs, along with their broader strategic value for high-tech industries.