Wireless sensor network (WSN) technology's clean and inexpensive system deployments will result in more buildings using less energy, needing less maintenance, and producing lower carbon emissions, according to ON World. By 2011, global revenues for WSN commercial building solutions will be $2.6 billion.

Rising end user awareness and demand, a strengthening value system, and hardening standards is increasing WSN adoption in Green buildings worldwide. Twenty-five percent of commercial building energy reduction will be attributed to WSN in 2013, worth $7.4 billion in global energy savings.

"Energy management has always been a major driver for commercial buildings to adopt building control technologies, but now achieving Green status is becoming the primary driving force," says Mareca Hatler, Director of Research for ON World. Driven by social and economic forces, building owners worldwide are adopting Green solutions in order to increase efficiency, lower costs, reduce operational risks, and satisfy the demands of customers, employees, and shareholders.

Increasing Awareness and Demand

In a recent survey by ON World with 115 building operations executives, nearly two-thirds are familiar with WSN and one out of five are current wireless sensor users. Within the next 18 months, 61% plan to adopt an energy management solution.

Strengthening Value System

Compared to only a handful of WSN developers two years ago, there are currently over one hundred WSN developers, integrators, and manufacturers targeting building controls solutions. Some of the largest global OEMs such as Assay Abloy, Hitachi, Ingersoll-Rand, Johnson Controls, Schneider Electric, Siemens, and Trane all have commercial WSN products shipping today.

Hardening Standards

IEEE802.15.4 and ZigBee are the clear winning technologies for WSN solutions in commercial buildings. This year, nearly two thirds of all deployed WSN nodes in commercial buildings will be based on IEEE802.15.4 and four out of five of the building control market leaders have ZigBee based WSN products shipping today.

Emerging markets

While HVAC is the most commonly targeted solution, there are several emerging market opportunities for WSN such as lighting control systems, metering, and condition monitoring. Markets such as lodging, manufacturing, warehousing, and data centers often lack traditional building control systems and have the highest demand for WSN today. In 2011, non-traditional markets will make up more than a quarter of the WSN commercial building revenues.

ON World's recently published report, "WSN for Smart Buildings" is based 190 phone interviews with building executives and technology companies. It provides extensive market size forecasts and analysis of 7 solution areas in eleven target markets; in-depth coverage of the competitive landscape; and market analysis of WSN for traditional building controls, vertical markets, and emerging markets.