• More manufacturing activity : Manufacturing is ramping up worldwide according to S&P Global, and it is the most energy-intensive sector. Every uptick in production means a surge in energy consumption. 2 • An increasing fleet of EVs : As electric vehicles become more prevalent, they could drive U.S. electricity demand up by as much as 38 percent. 3 • A data center power burst : As the use of artificial intelligence increases, Goldman Sachs says data center electricity use is set to skyrocket by 160 percent over the next six years. 4 To meet these needs, the energy industry is working toward a Modern Energy Minimum, which calls for 1,000 kWh per person to be generated per year to ensure modern energy access is available for everyone. 5 How can owners meet sustainability expectations when facilities require more energy? As an industry, it continues to drive toward sustainable, net-zero facilities. Sustainability priorities are escalating as owners are pressed to lower energy consumption, reduce waste, and work toward net-zero targets.
This is not necessarily a result of regulatory pressure or corporate responsibility, but of necessity. Energy efficiency and sustainability are taking center stage as energy costs and concerns about grid reliability become more prevalent, causing owners to scrutinize every aspect of building performance. In addition, investors are increasingly demanding climate accountability, and tenants expect their working and living spaces to align with their sustainability values. When there is a growing gap between requirements on the jobsite and the workforce available to deliver it, how can projects move forward? Labor gaps threaten timelines and progress. Workforce shortages are making qualified electricians hard to find, which slows project progress. This gap has been a persistent challenge driven by an aging workforce, fewer young people choosing the trades, and more demand for new construction and renovation work. 6 As experienced electricians retire, there is not enough new talent to fill their positions. In some cases, this scarcity means available electricians are stretched too thin and working longer hours. This increases the risk of burnout and mistakes, making project delays even more common. The impact is being felt across the industry,
Reimagining Building Design with FMP in the Next 20 Years By Stephen Eaves
A quiet revolution is under way in how commercial buildings are powered, signaling it could be time to evolve from traditional power distribution. Two decades from now it is highly likely that fault
managed power (FMP) distribution will no longer be considered an upgrade or optional feature. Instead, there will be a strong demand for it in new building designs.
THE TIPPING POINT FOR POWER DISTRIBUTION: OLD APPROACHES ARE FALLING SHORT Why is this shift happening now, and why is it happening so quickly? After all, the traditional infrastructure that powers our world today has been in use for more than 130 years. In short, pressures are mounting, serving as a wake-up call for building owners: the time is now to rethink the approach to powering tomorrow’s facilities.
ELECTRICITY DEMAND IS OUTPACING INFRASTRUCTURE Electricity demands are increasing across all sectors, making it challenging for conventional electrical infrastructure to keep pace with our high-energy world. Energy use is rising for many reasons: • A growing population : By 2050, the world’s population is expected to grow to nearly 10 billion people (an increase of 2 billion in only a few decades). 1
I
I
22
ICT TODAY
October/November/December 2025
23
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs