Central America's construction sector bets on smart energy digitalization.
The implementation of automation and data measurement systems allows buildings to reduce energy costs by up to 50% and minimize their carbon footprint. Lady Campos, Business Development Manager for Central America at Schneider Electric, emphasized that these technologies enable managing energy as a lever for competitiveness rather than a fixed cost, achieving operational expense reductions of 30% to 50%.
Resilience and IoT Technology For Central America, the adoption of these solutions also responds to vulnerability from extreme weather phenomena. According to reports from organizations that have adopted these technologies, energy cost savings in the first 12 months range from 15% to 30%, with investment return cases achieved in as little as six months.
Lady Campos added that incorporating sustainable construction criteria reduces risks associated with hurricanes and floods, strengthening urban infrastructure against climate change. The implementation of these platforms not only streamlines compliance with international regulations like ISO 50001, but also delivers tangible financial results.
These systems act as the nerve center of buildings, enabling real-time control of variables such as climate control, lighting, and air quality. By digitizing the operation of new or existing buildings, developers typically identify between 15% and 30% of consumption that can be eliminated through simple measures. Additionally, it is estimated that 30% of the energy used in commercial infrastructure is wasted, highlighting the need to transition to more efficient operational models.
The Role of Advanced Management Systems Current energy optimization relies on Building Management Systems (BMS), advanced monitoring software (PME), and analysis tools (EAA). In Central America, where the industry contributes between 3.7% and 12.5% of GDP in countries like Costa Rica, Panama, and El Salvador, automation and precise data measurement are presented as the definitive tools for sustainability.
According to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), buildings are responsible for between 37% and 39% of energy-related CO2 emissions. The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence technologies allows buildings to learn usage patterns and generate automatic alerts for anomalies.
With a projected annual growth rate of 4% for the construction sector until 2034, the year 2026 is poised as the inflection point where digital energy management will shift from being an optional trend to an indispensable standard for foreign investment and climate well-being in the Central American region.
