What is Building Automation?

Building automation system control panel used in Kelowna and Okanagan commercial buildings.

Updated: July 28, 2026

Building automation is the use of one connected system to control a building's HVAC, lighting, electrical, and security equipment instead of running each one separately. For property managers and building owners across the Okanagan, that means fewer systems to track and fewer surprises. Kimco Controls has been installing and servicing building automation systems for commercial and institutional buildings across BC's Interior since 1984, and this guide covers what it does, how it works, and how to tell if your building is ready for it.

What Building Automation Does

A building automation system, or BAS, connects a building's major equipment so it can be monitored and adjusted from one place. That usually includes:

• HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)
• Lighting systems
• Electrical systems
• Security and life safety systems
• In some cases, geothermal or renewable energy systems

Instead of managing each system on its own, a BAS lets a building run these as one coordinated network. The result is lower energy costs, more consistent comfort, and a lot less time spent troubleshooting one system at a time.

How It Works

A BAS collects data from sensors placed throughout a building, temperature, occupancy, air quality, equipment status, and uses that data to make automatic adjustments. If a room is empty, the system can dial back heating or cooling. If a mechanical unit starts drawing more power than usual, the system can flag it before it fails.

That constant flow of information is what separates automation from a standard thermostat. A well-set-up BAS gives a facilities team real visibility into how a building is actually performing, not just what it's supposed to be doing.

Kimco pairs this with integration work that ties older equipment into newer control platforms, so a building doesn't need a full equipment replacement to benefit from automation. On upgrade projects, that's often meant rolling out Delta Controls Red5 panel by panel, so a building keeps running while its controls get modernized.

Kimco Controls' building automation system for a commercial property in BC's Interior.

Who Uses It

Building automation shows up most in:

• Commercial and institutional buildings, offices, and mixed-use properties
• School districts managing multiple facilities across a region
• Wineries, indoor growing facilities, and other operations with tight environmental requirements
• Government and institutional buildings with compliance or reporting needs

Across BC's Interior, from Kelowna to Vernon, Penticton, and Cranbrook, the buildings that get the most out of automation tend to be the ones managing several systems, or several sites, at once. Kimco's recent work coordinating automation controls at the new Active Living Centre in Vernon is a good example of what that looks like on a large institutional build.

Signs You Need It

A few common signs it's time to look at building automation for your property:

• Energy bills that don't match how the building is actually used
• Staff manually adjusting thermostats or lighting throughout the day
• No way to check equipment status without a physical walkthrough
• Multiple buildings or units with no central way to monitor them
• Equipment failures that get caught after the fact, not before

If two or more of these sound familiar, a site assessment is usually the fastest way to find out what a BAS could realistically save your building.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a building automation system, in simple terms?
It's a network that connects a building's HVAC, lighting, electrical, and security systems so they can be monitored and controlled from one place instead of separately.

How much does building automation cost for a commercial building?
Cost depends on building size, the number of systems being integrated, and whether existing equipment can be connected or needs replacing. I cannot confirm specific pricing here since it varies by project. Kimco provides quotes after a site assessment.

Is building automation worth it for a small commercial property?
It can be, particularly if the building has ongoing energy costs, staff manually managing systems, or plans to expand. A site assessment is the most reliable way to confirm whether the return makes sense for a smaller property.

Does Kimco service existing automation systems, or only install new ones?
Both. Kimco services and upgrades existing systems, including older or non-Kimco installs, in addition to new installations across the Okanagan and BC's Interior.

Not sure if your building is a fit for automation? Talk to our team about a site assessment.

Kimco Controls helps commercial and institutional building owners across the Okanagan and BC's Interior manage HVAC, building automation, and electrical under one team. Based in Kelowna since 1984.