Schneider Electric research: AI can reduce building energy use by 22%

Schneider Electric has released research during Climate Week NYC 2026 indicating that buildings utilizing artificial intelligence can reduce total energy consumption by up to 22% compared to traditional control systems. The study, titled ‘AI for Climate: Quantifying the Energy and Carbon Impact of Building Optimization’, highlights significant economic and environmental benefits.

Financially, the research suggests annual energy cost savings between $13,600 and $49,300 per building based on current commercial rates. Environmentally, the avoided CO2 emissions are estimated to be more than 100 times greater than the carbon footprint of the AI systems themselves. Specifically, a single tower could avoid up to 59,869 kg of CO2e annually, a benefit comparable to planting 2,700 mature trees.

The energy efficiency gains are largely driven by AI-guided optimization of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems through smart building management platforms. This optimization alone can contribute an additional 7.2% to 12.7% reduction in asset energy use, potentially saving over 200 MWh per year in certain scenarios.