Smart Building finance

Your world through finance: smart buildings and commercial estates

Smart buildings and commercial estates

Our relationship with buildings has been forever changed. From hybrid working to connected campuses or hotels, we move through our environment differently and technology is evolving to help our buildings intelligently adapt to occupants’ needs. Here Carolyn Newsham, Siemens Financial Services (SFS), discusses the innovative technologies that make our buildings more energy efficient, adaptable and connected.

Wherever you are in the UK, you’re likely to enter or even interact with some of the smart building estates that are changing the way we work, learn, rest, and recover. Together with cutting-edge technology from Siemens, SFS is supporting the digital buildings revolution with innovative finance solutions for a range of assets.

Smart campus with university, hospital, hotel, and office buildings, solar panels, EV charging stations, and ambulances.

SFS can finance a range of smart building assets

Building Safety

- Smart fire detectors

- Gas suppression systems

- Public address and voice alarm (PAVA)

Building Management

- HVAC

- Smart building control

- Lighting

- CCTV

IT Infrastructure

- IoT sensors

- Data centres

- IT Infrastructure

- Data driven analysis

Sustainable Energy

- Energy generating systems

- Solar

- EV charging

Diana stands beside a lab workstation with test samples, while a researcher reviews data on a computer screen.

At the university labs Diana is supervising a PhD student on the topic of digital twins and decarbonisation. The student’s research incorporates and analyses data gathered from the campus’ own digital sensors, and energy generation systems. These systems not only help monitor and manage the university’s current energy use – contributing to a significant reduction in annual carbon emissions – but also provide a digital testbed for student and staff research projects and innovations. These dynamic, interactive and flexible workplaces deliver unique research and study experiences and help to attract the next generation of workers and researchers to the university: the IoT sensors, AI, digital twin, and energy generation systems are all financed by SFS.

Bryn is staying at a city centre branch of a well-known hotel group. Alongside its great location, he chose the hotel for its reasonable onsite eCharging facilities and green credentials - the chain boasts solar panels on many of its UK-wide sites. Unbeknownst to him, the utilities like the HVAC system, boiler and electrical systems are also data-driven to increase energy efficiency and meet the changing demands of seasonal occupancy and variable energy supply. So when Bryn leaves his room to check out, the lighting and heating automatically switch off, ensuring efficient and eco-friendly use of the space while saving the hotel energy and money: the eCharging unit, solar PV, HVAC system, smart building control and lighting are all financed by SFS.

Bryn stands in a hotel room with luggage beside a bed, while icons highlight energy and building technology costs.

Akin works at a hospital reception desk with a computer, security camera, and building control systems.

At a nearby hospital, Akin is manning the reception desk. From his computer he can easily monitor bed occupancy, air flow, lighting and other matters relating to patient wellbeing. He’s not worried about stepping away from the desk because he also receives mobile notifications about the entrance and the site’s perimeter benefits from 24-hour CCTV. These smart integrated systems not only keep patients and staff safe and happy, but also help to make processes more efficient and save energy, while improving air quality: the intelligent energy management systems, door system, smart phone, and CCTV are all financed by SFS.

At a local office building, Kerry is hotdesking before her meeting. An app lets her know that more colleagues are working upstairs and joining them can reduce energy consumption and earn her a free coffee from the vending machine. After lunch she and her colleagues head to the meeting room. Kerry pre-booked the room on her app, and automated controls have efficiently prepared optimal lighting and temperature conditions for the expected occupancy. The same app also lets her book an EV charging spot for her next visit. As she pulls up to the building an ANPR camera identifies her vehicle registration and grants her entry: the eCharging unit, lighting and smart building controls are all financed by SFS.

Kerry leads a hybrid meeting at a laptop with two colleagues in person and four participants on a video call.

Person working on a laptop beside data center server racks, with icons highlighting hardware, chips, and cloud costs.

In each case, the smart, connected technologies bring together and intelligently analyse data in the building’s control centre. Here real-time monitoring of energy performance, trend data and energy demand/consumption dashboards, alongside continued data analysis, enable continuous situational awareness across whole sites. This means building operators and users benefit from ongoing building optimisation, constant performance against targets, and immediate response to incidents: this datacentre, IT infrastructure and its data-driven analysis are all financed by SFS.

Behind the scenes in all these buildings, Diana, Bryn, Akin and Kerry all benefit from a range of intelligent security features. For instance, the added safety of smart fire detectors eliminates potential false fire alarms due to environmental influences such as dust, airborne particles and steam. Likewise, gas suppression systems are installed across IT rooms and data centres to protect assets where sprinkler systems would cause irreparable damage. And, public address and voice alarm (PAVA) facilitates safe evacuation in an emergency. These innovative, integrated security and fire safety systems deliver better situational awareness, resilience and enhanced cyber protections: the fire detectors, gas suppression systems and PAVA facilities are all financed by SFS.

Person holding a folder beside a vending machine in an office lobby, with icons for HVAC, fire safety, and alarms.

Specialist finance that transforms Commercial Building ecosystems

Smart buildings offer an automated, connected environment where the latest technology is creating a more efficient, productive, and healthy place to work. To achieve this relies on multi-disciplinary, fully integrated, smart solutions rooted in connectivity, sustainability, safety and employee empowerment. Siemens Financial Services (SFS) works with Siemens Infrastructure and other technology vendors to support the latest innovations and create tailored arrangements designed around savings, efficiencies and outcomes.

Cloud computing and digital data represented by a computer monitor, cloud icon, and binary code.

XaaS model

X-as-a-Service models provide the financing solution, with future expected savings from energy efficiency being harnessed and used to pay for the capital investment and more. These can be designed around energy efficiency, migration, storage or charging as a service, for example. The solution provider must have a deep understanding of the technology and its practical applications and assumes the risk of achieving the projected energy savings. Because payments are aligned with expected savings, these arrangements can often be made low cost or even budget-neutral for the building owner, avoiding the need for any capital spending at all.

Customer benefits:

• Data-driven, bespoke business models that spread payments and preserve cash flow

• Finance and service from a single source

• Exceptional sector-specific understanding

• Local and international expertise from a leading global provider

Transform your building with Siemens

We have the technology and finance solutions you need to take your smart building journey to the next level. Whether you're looking for cutting-edge technology, financing for your investment, or both, we've got you covered.

Contact our team

Carolyn Newsham
Siemens Finance Partner
LinkedIn