Smart Buildings & Connected Lighting

China has launched an action plan to promote consumption of smart home products, aiming to increase the diversity of usage scenarios and expand the supply of high-quality goods. The plan was issued by eight government agencies, including the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. It sets out seven major measures covering the expansion of high-quality smart home supply, improvement of the standards system, support for consumption, development of products suited to the elderly, organisation of recycling service chains for used household goods, optimisation of community services, and strengthening of financial and budgetary support. The plan also calls for supporting the retrofitting of homes for the elderly and the upgrading of old homes into smart homes. Under the 2026 trade-in policy for consumer goods, local governments have been given greater flexibility in designing subsidy programmes, with the central government planning to allocate 250 billion yuan, or 36.93 billion US dollars, from ultra-long special treasury bonds to support such projects nationwide.

AMR Asia has signed a memorandum of understanding with GCC to jointly drive toward a low-carbon society. AMR will implement its Facility Management System (FMS) to efficiently manage smart buildings, covering office buildings, commercial buildings, hotels, factories, and shopping malls. The FMS integrates data from various building systems, such as air conditioning, electricity, lighting, and utilities, to analyze and manage energy usage in real time, helping to reduce energy consumption and operational costs. This collaboration marks a significant step in leveraging technology for energy conservation and environmental protection, supporting buildings in using resources efficiently, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and concretely pushing the business sector toward a low-carbon society.

Amata Corporation led a delegation of high-tech investors from China to meet with Vietnamese government executives and provincial governors, aiming to advance smart city and intelligent industrial estate projects in strategic areas. Chief Executive Officer Vikrom Kromadit disclosed that he held discussions with Mr. Quan Manh Cuong, a member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee, to drive the Amata City Halong project toward becoming an environmentally friendly high-tech industrial hub. The delegation also met with Ho Chi Minh City leaders, joined by Mrs. Urawadee Sriphiromya, Thai Ambassador to Vietnam, to expand economic cooperation under the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of Thai-Vietnamese diplomatic relations. In addition, the group presented a concept for developing a future city in Phu Tho province, integrating a smart city, industrial estate, and modern service center to accommodate investment in data centers and high-tech industries, while requesting provincial support for electricity, water, telecommunications, and digital network infrastructure. This trip reflects Amata's long-term commitment to expanding investment in Vietnam and fostering economic cooperation among Thailand, China, and Vietnam.

KODE Labs announced that its building operating system, KODE OS, has achieved FedRAMP High authorization through Palantir Technologies' FedStart program. The authorization clears KODE OS for use by federal agencies and other high-compliance organizations in the most sensitive, mission-critical environments. KODE OS is already operating federal buildings under a $14.35 million contract with the U.S. General Services Administration's Public Buildings Service, deploying across 150 GSA-managed buildings in the National Capital Region. The platform is now listed on the FedRAMP Marketplace as part of Palantir's Federal Cloud Service, assessed against the NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 High baseline. KODE Labs designed the offering to meet the FedRAMP High standard from the outset, with security built into the platform's architecture, application development, software supply chain, and day-to-day operations.

Jishi Media has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Yushu Municipal People's Government to promote comprehensive digital transformation under the Digital Yushu initiative. The two sides will gradually scale up the results of a previously launched smart agriculture pilot, aiming to build a benchmark smart city for county-level regions in Northeast China. The cooperation will upgrade from a single agricultural digitalization scenario to a full-dimensional government-enterprise collaboration system covering urban governance, public services, industrial upgrading, and digital infrastructure. Jishi Media will prioritize strengthening Yushu's digital foundation by upgrading information and communication networks, building a city-wide IoT sensing system and a local cloud computing platform, while simultaneously providing communication resources and county-level brand promotion channels. Jishi Media Chairman You Zhiqiang stated that the county-level market is the main battlefield for building Digital Jilin, and Yushu Party Secretary Liu Jinglei noted that the construction of a digital and intelligent Yushu has been incorporated into the city's key plans for the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

Tibet Jiatou Energy Technology, a joint venture between Jianan Intelligence and Nyingchi municipal state capital, was inaugurated in Nyingchi on July 28. Jianan Intelligence's subsidiary Jiachen New Energy holds a 70 percent stake. Positioned as a comprehensive power service provider for high-altitude areas, the company focuses on smart energy services, integrated solar-storage-charging, and plateau smart microgrids. Using Nyingchi as a core hub, it plans to build high-power charging piles and distributed solar-storage systems adapted to the plateau's low-temperature environment, promote county-level smart microgrid pilots, enhance demand-side response capabilities, and create a clean energy demonstration model for southeastern Tibet. Jianan Intelligence will leverage its technological expertise in smart meters, charging equipment, and energy storage systems to carry out specialized adaptations for high-altitude, low-temperature, and strong ultraviolet operating conditions. Industry analysts believe that as the construction of Tibet's clean energy base advances, this deployment is expected to open a new regional growth curve for the company.

The Digital Economy Promotion Agency, or DEPA, organized the third Cloud Transformation Local Connect event in Chiang Mai province to encourage local government organizations in 17 northern provinces to adopt software-as-a-service on the cloud. The initial target is for no fewer than 400 local government agencies nationwide to use cloud-based software services, which will benefit over 4 million citizens through digital services, upskill more than 4,000 government officials in cloud technology, and generate an economic impact exceeding 133 million baht. At the event, 100 digital services bearing the dSURE certification mark were selected, divided into three groups: citizen service systems, internal efficiency enhancement systems, and systems promoting seven aspects of smart cities. DEPA supports usage rights worth up to 200,000 baht per project for a period of no less than 12 months. This activity is part of the Cloud Transformation project, which is held four times across all regions. This third event follows the central and eastern region event in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province and the northeastern region event in Khon Kaen province, and will conclude in the southern region on August 3, 2026.

Sky ICT Public Company Limited, or SKY, has announced it is moving forward with its aviation technology business to drive long-term growth, with plans to develop an airport management platform and AI humanoid robots targeting the global market. Chief Executive Officer Sittidej Mayalarp revealed that the aviation industry is on an upswing, with global passenger numbers expected to grow by around 20 to 25 percent in 2026, while passenger numbers in Thailand are projected to grow by an average of 5 to 7 percent per year and will accelerate in the fourth quarter of 2026, which is the tourist season. Meanwhile, Airports of Thailand has plans to expand Suvarnabhumi Airport from a capacity of 60 million passengers per year to 75 million in the next three years, and to 140 million by 2034, which will be a factor driving increased demand for airport management technology. SKY is also developing the OCC Platform, a comprehensive ground handling management platform, with plans to launch it in international markets in 2030, while also pushing into the humanoid robot business through a joint venture with AGIBOT and TKC, in which SKY holds a 55 percent stake, to develop Thai-language AI and a large language model, aiming to deploy robots in actual airport operations by the end of this year. Currently, SKY provides technology systems at 13 airports nationwide, and as of the end of the first quarter of 2026, it had a backlog valued at 25.287 billion baht, with over 90 percent being long-term projects in the Technology as a Service segment.

The global air quality monitoring market is projected to grow from US$ 7.23 billion in 2025 to US$ 14.37 billion by 2034, at a compound annual growth rate of 7.9%. North America is forecast to account for over 18.67% of global market share by 2034, while Europe held the second-largest share at over 42.41% in 2025, with the France market projected to grow at a 6.6% CAGR through 2034. Hardware dominates the market, driven by increasing deployment of fixed and portable monitoring stations, and the outdoor segment registers the fastest CAGR. Key growth drivers include rising demand for advanced monitoring solutions across industrial and urban environments, integration of IoT and AI, and expanding smart city initiatives, though high equipment costs and complex implementation remain challenges.

Cisco highlights that smart buildings can leverage workplace data to improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and enhance employee experience. Buildings accounted for about 28% of global energy consumption and 37% of global carbon dioxide emissions in 2024, according to a 2026 UN Environment Programme report. Cisco worked with the U.S. General Services Administration on a Workplace Innovation Lab in Washington, D.C., where a renovated space was 73% more energy efficient than an unrenovated area and avoided five metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over one year. The company also points to its London office, designed with neuro-inclusivity in mind, as an example of using technology to support a more inclusive environment. Cisco emphasizes that connecting data from systems like HVAC, lighting, and collaboration tools enables better decisions about energy use, real estate, and employee experience.

The wireless EV charging market is projected to grow from USD 0.11 billion in 2026 to USD 0.82 billion by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate of 38.7 percent, according to a new report from MarketsandMarkets. The market is transitioning from pilot projects to early commercial deployments, driven by fleet and public transport operators seeking automated charging to reduce downtime and improve efficiency. Europe is expected to be the fastest-growing region, supported by strong government backing for zero-emission mobility and integration with smart city initiatives. Stationary wireless charging leads the market, while home charging units are forecast to be the fastest-growing application segment. Key players include Electreon, Witricity, ENRX, HEVO Inc., and Plugless Power Inc.

Eiffage Construction has been awarded a design-build contract for the future headquarters of the Oise energy syndicate in Beauvais, France. The project, located in the Novaparc business park, will accommodate a doubling of the syndicate's workforce to 80 employees and is described as an exemplary energy ecosystem. The two-storey building will offer over 2,000 square metres of usable floor area and incorporate a smart grid with AI-based simulation, photovoltaic panels, a hydrogen-compatible gas boiler, a geothermal heat pump, a fuel cell, thermal solar panels, and an electrolyser. Construction is set to begin in January 2027 with completion expected in the first quarter of 2028, with Eiffage Construction as lead contractor alongside Eiffage Energie Systèmes and Eiffage Route.

Honeywell's Building Automation segment reported an 11% year-over-year revenue increase to $1.88 billion in the first quarter of 2026, with organic sales up 8%. Growth was driven by sustained momentum in both building solutions and building products, each posting 8% sales gains, supported by demand for energy-efficient and smart building technologies and solid residential and commercial construction markets. The segment also saw a 9% rise in orders, fueled by double-digit increases in projects, services, and fire products, along with capital spending on data centers and healthcare projects. Honeywell shares trade at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 20.90 and carry a Zacks Rank of 3, or Hold.

The global AI in construction market is projected to grow from $2.28 billion in 2025 to $9.48 billion by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate of 33.1%. North America led the market in 2025, while Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period. Key drivers include smart city initiatives, demand for cost-optimized construction, and AI-driven site monitoring. Major companies such as Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, and Nvidia are investing in AI-powered workflow automation tools, with Nemetschek Group introducing an AI assistant in January 2025. The market's expansion is further supported by large-scale infrastructure projects and increasing sustainability regulations.

Acuity Inc. is gaining momentum in intelligent buildings even as its legacy lighting business faces uneven demand. In the first nine months of fiscal 2026, Acuity Intelligent Spaces net sales rose 58.9% year over year to $809 million, while operating profit increased to $121.8 million from $48.1 million. The fiscal third quarter showed AIS net sales up 14.9% to $303.5 million, with adjusted operating margin expanding 150 basis points to 25.1%. However, the larger Acuity Brands Lighting segment declined 1.9% in the quarter to $905.2 million, with direct sales network revenues falling 27.7%. The company is positioning around building intelligence through Atrius, Distech Controls and QSC, and is gaining traction in data centers, universities and enterprise campuses.

Acuity Inc. is increasingly defined by its shift into intelligent buildings, software-enabled controls, and audio-visual platforms, even as its core lighting business remains uneven. The company operates through two main segments: Acuity Brands Lighting and Acuity Intelligent Spaces. In the fiscal third quarter, Acuity Intelligent Spaces net sales rose 14.9% year over year to $303.5 million, while adjusted operating profit increased 22.5% to $76.3 million, with adjusted operating margin expanding 150 basis points to 25.1%. Meanwhile, Acuity Brands Lighting generated net sales of $905.2 million, down 1.9% year over year, and adjusted operating profit fell 5.3% to $164.6 million. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), with a Value Score of B, Growth Score of B, Momentum Score of F, and VGM Score of B.

The global cellular IoT market is projected to grow from $9.09 billion in 2025 to $86.55 billion by 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 25.4%, according to a report by SNS Insider. Hardware dominated the market in 2025, while the software segment is the fastest growing, driven by AI-enabled IoT platforms. North America held over 32% of the market in 2025, with the U.S. market alone valued at $2.91 billion and expected to reach $27.70 billion by 2035. The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest growing, led by China's large-scale NB-IoT deployments under government mandates. Key players include Qualcomm, Ericsson, Huawei, AT&T, and Verizon.

Tetra Tech has secured a single-award contract from Encina Wastewater Authority to provide digital automation and operational technology network solutions for the Cogeneration Low-Emission Augmentation and Retrofit project in California. The company will install microgrid control and gas conditioning systems and integrate information systems across biological trickling filters, oxidation catalyst emissions controls, a digester biogas conditioning facility, a 1-megawatt linear generator facility, and a 1.5 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system. The work aims to improve wastewater treatment by enhancing biogas efficiency and reducing emissions. Tetra Tech has provided operational technology and systems integration services to the authority since 2017.

IPD, in partnership with ABB Australia and Equilibrium Climatech Joint Venture, has supplied more than 130 ABB ACH580-01 Variable Speed Drives for the HVAC systems at the New Sydney Fish Market, a major public infrastructure project at Blackwattle Bay led by Infrastructure NSW. The drives are part of a sustainability strategy that targets a 25 percent reduction in CO₂ emissions and a 5 to 30 percent reduction in energy consumption compared with conventional systems. The ABB ACH580 drives control chilled water pumps, condenser water pumps, cooling tower operations, and various fans, integrating with the building’s central Building Management System for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance. The project team selected the drives for their energy efficiency, seamless BMS integration, durability, and HVAC-specific features such as IP55 protection and embedded EMC filters. The collaboration highlights how contractors, technology providers, and suppliers can deliver infrastructure that balances environmental responsibility, operational performance, and long-term financial viability.