Piloting the Future of Campus Operations: Emerging Technologies for the Modern Campus

PART 1: ENERGY

Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)

A new form of solar panels is officially entering the US market, offering a more aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional rooftop solar. The European company Roofit.Solar focuses on a technology called building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), where the roofing material itself is the solar panel. These integrated systems minimize visual impact, which is often a consideration for historic buildings or aesthetically sensitive campuses.

• ‍Why consider it: You can modernize the energy profile of an aesthetically sensitive building (like an ivy-covered library or a modern arts annex) without the visual "clutter" of traditional solar racks. BIPV, such as solar metal roofing, integrates the power generation directly into the building envelope.
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• Projects breaking ground by July 4, 2026, may still qualify for federal tax credits or direct-pay reimbursements. For more information about how the Incentive Tax Credit (ITC) was affected by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), check out our previous blog here.

Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP)

Heat pump technology has undergone a significant transformation, overcoming past performance limitations, especially in colder climates. Recent studies, such as those conducted by organizations like the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), confirm their viability and efficacy even in regions with harsh winters, making them a crucial technology for decarbonization efforts nationwide.

• Why consider it: The electrification movement is here to stay, especially in municipalities subject to building performance standards (like NYC and DC). Modern heat pumps have solved the cold-climate performance gap, allowing campuses to move away from centralized steam or natural gas without compromising reliability and cost. Consolidating heating and cooling into a single electric system reduces the complexity of your mechanical rooms and cuts down on the specialized labor required to maintain legacy boilers.

Geo-exchange / Groundsource Heat Pumps (GSHC)

Geo-exchange (or ground source heat pump) systems remain one of the most effective ways to heat and cool facilities using the stable temperature of the earth, providing high-efficiency heating/cooling regardless of external weather conditions. The financial viability of these systems has been significantly boosted by the continued availability of federal and state tax credits, which can substantially lower the first-cost hurdle, making the long-term ROI even more attractive. Innovation in this area focuses on optimizing the drilling process and improving heat transfer efficiency to reduce installation costs and land usage. For instance, Minnesota-based Darcy Solutions has pioneered "turbo-charging" mechanisms that utilize the high thermal conductivity of moving groundwater. By drawing heat from an aquifer rather than static soil, these systems allow for significantly fewer wells to achieve the same energy output, maximizing efficiency while minimizing site disruption.

• Why consider it: Using the earth as a thermal battery is the most stable way to hedge against fluctuating energy markets. New "turbo-charged" drilling techniques allow for higher heat transfer with fewer wells. It requires significantly less surface land than traditional geothermal, making it viable for "land-locked" urban campuses. The system provides over 30 years of price certainty, serving as a powerful hedge against energy market volatility and a cornerstone for long-term fiscal planning.

PART 2: OPERATIONS

Open-Standard Intelligent Controls

The next generation of Building Automation Systems (BAS) is moving toward smarter, more flexible control architectures. New, non-proprietary controllers, such as those utilizing the EnOcean standard, are entering the market, offering a cheaper and more adaptable alternative to complex, expensive proprietary BAS. While the EnOcean standard itself does not incorporate artificial intelligence (AI), this shift gives facility managers more freedom in system configuration, allowing them to leverage AI and machine learning capabilities to control systems through a smart server. This setup allows for the autonomous reconfiguration of system points and optimization of performance, constantly fine-tuning a building's operation for peak efficiency and minimal energy waste.

• Why consider it: Most campuses are "locked in" to proprietary Building Automation Systems (BAS) that are expensive to service. Moving to non-proprietary, open-standard controllers returns control to the owner. AI can be utilized to learn occupancy patterns in classrooms and offices, automatically dimming lights and adjusting airflows when rooms are empty.

Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD) Platforms

The next step beyond intelligent controls is using data analysis to constantly monitor and diagnose the operational health of your building portfolio. These platforms connect directly to your existing Building Automation System (BAS) to continuously ingest real-time operational data (e.g., temperatures, setpoints, valve positions, equipment runtimes, etc.). For example, a platform like ClockWorks utilizes proprietary FDD algorithms to automatically detect and diagnose operational faults and inefficiencies, turning raw data into opportunities for low-cost or no-cost corrections.

• Why consider it: A major challenge for facility teams is the sheer volume of data produced by a modern BAS, making it impossible to spot hidden operational issues manually. FDD platforms automatically flag issues such as simultaneous heating and cooling, schedule/setpoint violations, stuck dampers/valves, and inefficient control sequences. SHG's team partners with the FDD platform to provide engineering review and prioritization of the faults identified. We separate software-identified anomalies from confirmed, actionable maintenance or control issues, focusing on low or no-cost measures like BAS control adjustments, minor maintenance, or system resets. 

Smart Lock Cylinders

These modern systems replace traditional keyways with battery-powered mechanisms, providing detailed audit trails and simplifying access control for staff and visitors. Cutting-edge systems now explore "direct line of sight" non-connected power charging, eliminating the need for complex hardwiring at every door. 

• Why consider it: Managing thousands of physical keys is a security nightmare and a massive labor sink. These systems turn your doors into part of a connected Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. This technology often integrates with related products like smart lockers and mobile-app credentials. You can instantly grant or revoke access without the prohibitive cost of hard-wiring every door.

3D Scanning for As-Built Documentation

Capturing accurate "as-built" conditions for existing facilities has traditionally been a time-consuming and expensive process, often involving professional surveying or manual measurements. Tools like Polycam (a mobile and desktop application) are democratizing this process by leveraging LiDAR and photogrammetry capabilities found in modern smartphones and tablets. The SHG team can partner with your facilities staff to rapidly scan rooms, entire floors, or building exteriors to generate accurate, georeferenced 3D models and 2D floor plans. This allows for near-instantaneous documentation of spaces for renovation planning, capital project management, and simply maintaining a digital twin of the campus.

• Why consider it: Most campuses lack accurate, up-to-date floor plans and documentation, making planning for renovations and deferred maintenance highly inefficient. Having high-fidelity, dimensionally accurate 3D models and 2D floor plans on demand dramatically reduces the time and cost associated with capital project design and execution, with SHG providing the expertise to execute and manage the data.

Is Your Campus Ready for a Pilot?

On behalf of my SHG colleagues, I wanted to share the launch of our new website which coincides with our 25th anniversary. Yes, for 25 years we have been practicing "building stewardship"  but most importantly we have enjoyed over 500 client relationships and our time on your campuses. We are honored by your faith and trust.  

We began with some durable principles, we learned a lot and grew during those first twenty-five years and we are bullish on the future. Here are some thoughts on the past, present, and future.
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25 Years Ago SHG believed that…

… The physical endowment is more valuable and complex to manage than the fiscal endowment

… Making space become place defines many organizations

… An underground (utility) master plan should exist to complement the above-ground facilities master plan

… Energy performance is a barometer of stewardship‍

                                                                   ... We can become "greener".

SHG has learned that… ‍

… Commissioning fundamentally enhances occupant comfort and building performance 

… The lessons from COVID will change the built environment

… Carbon accounting can help improve planning

 … Building envelope commissioning is also an important part of commissioning

… Our B Corp. Certified is a force for good

… The Inflation Reduction Act is powerful enough to incentivize  building better for less first and operating cost

… The levelized cost of renewable energy is lower than grid energy

… The grid is getting cleaner and operational carbon is being reduced

… Energy benchmarking is here to stay 

                                                        ... We can become more sustainable.

For the future SHG believes that…

… The prescriptive building certification ( e.g. LEED) movement will shift to performance-based programs

… The simple principles of solar orientation, proper insulation, biophilic attributes and efficient systems will return

… Indoor Environmental Quality will become a focal point

… Electrification will accelerate

… Reducing embodied carbon will be the next goal

… Artificial intelligence will indeed be transformative for the built environment and buildings will become smarter

… Smart buildings need balancing, retro and continuous commissioning even more than "dumb' buildings

… Indoor Air Quality will become the next frontier of benchmarking

… Carbon benchmarking is here to stay  

                                                               ... We can become regenerative.

And we believe that just as the built environment has evolved SHG will continue to evolve but that "building stewardship"  will still mean making the built environment better! See you on site.

Sincerely,