Reducing operating costs has overtaken sustainability as the top driver for smart building investment, according to new research released by the Association for Smarter Homes & Buildings. The findings highlight a market that is accelerating toward data-driven optimization, cloud-based management and practical, real-world applications of artificial intelligence.
Developed in collaboration with Harbor Research, the 2025 Smart Building Trends & Technology Adoption project surveyed 308 commercial building owners, operators, IT leaders and facility managers across the United States and Canada. According to the survey overview in the final report, 91% of respondents already use smart building systems — a slight increase over 2024 — and spending on smart technologies reached an average of more than $550,000 per organization this year.
The research examined adoption across key building systems, uncovering that while HVAC and electrical systems remain the most critical and widely deployed, their smart capabilities lag behind more advanced systems such as lighting, security, fire/life safety and electrical distribution when measured on a five-level intelligence scale. Despite these gaps, priorities remain consistent: operational efficiency, sustainability initiatives and occupant experience continue to lead organizational agenda.
Trend analysis in the report focuses on six areas shaping the industry:
- Cloud-based building management systems
- Smart building software landscape
- Sustainability and energy management
- Digital twins
- Artificial Intelligence, emphasizing current use cases delivering measurable ROI
- Smart buildings monetization models
An executive summary is available for public download. The full research findings, including infographics, survey results and detailed trend analyses, are currently available only to participating funders but will be open for public purchase in the ASHB Shop beginning April 2026.
