The US hankers for smart cities. Plus IoT lighting can save offices $1.5 trillion

　　Two new vendor-backed studies reaffirm the potential bonanza awaiting the lighting industry's embrace of the Internet of Things (IoT): Philips Lighting said that offices can save a staggering $1.5 trillion with smart lighting, while a Silver Spring Networks survey described a United States chomping at the bit for smart cities.

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　　The $1.5 trillion savings that Philips described in a recent research report would come from the intelligent use of LED lighting-embedded sensors that gather data on occupancy and reveal to facility managers how to better utilize space such as conference rooms (which are notoriously underused), open plan desk areas, lobbies, and so forth.

　　“The findings show the impact that could be made on rents across the world’s offices if business owners replicated the efficient usage of space achieved in a leading green building,” Philips said, referring to its often-cited smart lighting deployment at The Edge office building in Amsterdam, occupied by consulting firm Deloitte and others. “Deloitte accomplished a 50% reduction in space required per employee in The Edge building in Amsterdam compared to its previous premises The Chrystal Tower, through effective use of smart technology.”