While the number of IoT solutions is growing, business leaders must carefully choose systems that collect relevant data and transform it into useful information or automate processes that improve operations and solve problems. With sustainability becoming increasingly important, IoT offers numerous opportunities to reduce environmental impact and optimize business processes, making it a key tool for achieving sustainability goals.

1. Smart Energy Management

Energy consumption and the associated direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions have the biggest environmental impact. On average, the main energy consumers in buildings are:

• Heating systems – 52%
• Electric lighting – 14%
• Other devices (e.g., office equipment) – 16%

In energy-intensive industries, the majority of energy consumption comes from manufacturing and processing operations.

Remote Metering Systems

Remote metering or smart metering technology provides near-instant insights into energy consumption (electricity, gas, heating oil, water, etc.). This data helps better understand consumption patterns and detect system anomalies, reducing response time.

If you generate energy from renewable sources, a smart meter allows you to measure the amount of energy produced, fed into the grid (e.g., to a utility provider), and used for your own needs.

Additionally, by installing submeters, you can analyze consumption at specific buildings, energy-intensive processes, or even production lines. These data enable plant operators to quickly identify major consumers, peak loads, and inefficient consumption patterns, allowing timely corrective actions.

Smart Heating System Management

If you use radiators for heating, smart radiator valves and indoor temperature and humidity sensors enable centralized heating system management. These systems allow you to:

• Adjust heating schedules according to actual needs in different spaces
• Automatically regulate temperature to achieve energy savings.

Smart Lighting

Electricity consumption can be further reduced with smart lighting solutions:

• IoT motion sensors and smart switches ensure lights are only on when needed (e.g., in hallways and staircases)
• Timed lighting controls optimize electricity consumption based on predefined schedules
• IoT light sensors automatically adjust lighting based on ambient conditions, such as turning on outdoor entrance lights at dusk

2. Air Quality Monitoring

Air pollution significantly impacts human health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for approximately 7 million premature deaths annually:

• 4.2 million due to outdoor pollution
• 3.8 million due to indoor pollution

IoT indoor air quality sensors monitor the presence of harmful gases, volatile organic compounds, and CO₂ levels. When integrated with ventilation systems, they ensure timely and necessary adjustments to maintain air quality. On-demand ventilation can reduce energy consumption by 20% to 70%.

3. Smart Waste Management

Smart waste management is often discussed in the context of municipalities, but its benefits and applicability for businesses are equally significant.

IoT waste management solutions optimize bin emptying schedules and adjust bin capacity based on actual needs. This prevents unnecessary emptying of half-full bins, reducing costs and carbon emissions from unnecessary truck movements.

On the other hand, timely waste collection prevents overflowing bins, unhygienic conditions, and additional harmful emissions. Additionally, IoT sensors can monitor temperature and humidity inside waste bins to detect potential microbial activity.

5. Water Management

By 2050, more than 50% of the world’s population will live in regions experiencing water scarcity. Currently 85% of properties lose 35% of their water consumption due to leaks. Municipal water loss from pipe leaks accounts for 20-40% of total drinking water consumption.

By collecting, storing, and analyzing data from strategically placed smart meters and IoT sensors, you can monitor your water supply system and track processes such as water distribution, leak detection and repair, wastewater and irrigation. Sensors can also monitor water reservoir levels and ensure water quality control.

6. Smart Agriculture

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global food production will need to increase by 50% by 2050 to feed an estimated 10 billion people.

Optimizing agricultural efficiency opens the door to a sustainable food production system that meets global demand while reducing resource use and environmental impact. Applications include:

• Monitoring crop conditions, soil health and climate data
• Automating irrigation, fertilization, and seeding processes
• Precision pesticide and fertilizer application to minimize waste

IoT for Digital and Green Transition

The IoT sector continues to grow with new implementation possibilities. Companies that embrace IoT can more easily adapt to changes, enhance business processes, undergo digital transformation, and increase sustainability.

Which IoT solution can make a difference for your company?