Honeywell debuts Advance Control for Buildings, improves building management with cybersecurity measures

January 24, 2024

Honeywell announced Tuesday the introduction of Advance Control for Buildings, a platform marking the company’s most substantial leaps in building controls innovation to date that helps revolutionize building management. The new platform includes built-in cybersecurity measures, enhanced network speeds, and technologies designed to address the concerns and strategies of building managers.

Designed to automate building management and provide the foundation for a building’s energy efficiency strategy, Advance Control combines the latest technologies with decades of innovation and domain expertise. Automation and machine learning fuel a streamlined operation system featuring built-in cybersecurity and technology to deliver faster network speeds that, in an industry first, use existing wiring.

This announcement further supports Honeywell’s recently announced plans to realign its business with three compelling megatrends, including automation and energy transition.

“Today, buildings are facing mounting pressures around safety, operational efficiency, and energy efficiency. By pushing the boundaries of technological advancement, Advance Control not only helps building managers optimize their building operations to meet these pressures, but also champions innovation,” Steve Kenny, vice president and general manager of Honeywell Building Management Systems, said in a media statement. “Automation breaks down operational barriers to give building managers more control over the efficiency of their buildings, ultimately helping improve the occupant experience while advancing energy management goals.”

As part of this rollout, Honeywell recently announced alliances with two semiconductor leaders, NXP Semiconductors N.V. and Analog Devices, to streamline the transition to intelligent edge processing. With NXP, Honeywell seeks to elevate machine learning and autonomous decision-making for enhanced energy management and convenience, as well as enhanced security within and beyond the building. The joint efforts with ADI aim to deliver more efficiency and increased intelligence through digital connectivity and advanced signal conversion across many industrial applications.

“As the building automation market demands greater digital connectivity and security enabling data-driven efficiencies, ADI has invested in new technologies meeting these needs while also offering flexibility for future upgrades,” said Diarmuid McSwiney, managing director for industrial connectivity and control at ADI. “Our single-pair Ethernet (T1L) enables the possibility of reusing a building’s existing wiring, helping to reduce installation time, cost, and waste. ADI is pleased to work with Honeywell to bring this new technology to building management systems for the first time in Advance Control for Buildings.”

Security resilience is increasingly required for networked control systems,” said Rafael Sotomayor, executive vice president and general manager for secure connected edge at NXP Semiconductors. “Honeywell’s Advance Control for Buildings platform leverages NXP processors that efficiently combine machine learning with advanced security technologies to protect sensitive building automation infrastructure.”

According to the UN Environment Programme, buildings account for 37% of global CO2 emissions, resulting in increasing pressure to identify and reduce energy use. At the same time, the lack of skilled labor makes it difficult for building owners to find technicians to upkeep and modernize spaces.

“Real estate and facilities leaders are placing top priority on optimizing building operations,” said Sandy Rogers, a principal analyst with Verdantix, a research and advisory firm. “Organizations require greater visibility and automated control across their building portfolios, and they will increasingly look to digital innovations such as AI and machine learning for added intelligence.”