Ville Ilkkala

The building management industry faces a significant challenge: the vast majority of buildings, particularly older ones, are saddled with outdated Building Automation Systems (BAS) that lack the connectivity and data accessibility needed for modern energy optimization and other digital services. As a result, building owners and operators are often unable to harness the full potential of their infrastructure, leading to inefficiencies, higher energy costs, and missed opportunities for sustainability.

Nobody Engineering steps into this gap with a groundbreaking solution that transforms any building, regardless of age, into a smart, energy-efficient facility. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Tampere, Finland, Nobody Engineering is revolutionizing the building management industry with its groundbreaking technology that enables energy optimization and savings of up to 20% for any building.[KI1]  Other third-party examples of leading-edge digital services enabled by Nobody Engineering’s technology are virtual battery and demand response services. By retrofitting existing Building Automation Systems (BAS) with a small edge computing device deploying software robotics (EU patent pending), Nobody Engineering allows even the oldest buildings to access a wide variety of modern digital services without the need for extensive and expensive renovations.

Innovative Solutions for Energy Optimization

One of the critical challenges facing building owners and operators is the lack of connectivity and access to current or historical data generated by their BAS. Often, these systems do not store the invaluable data, leaving building owners dependent on proprietary vendors. Nobody Engineering’s technology, combined with its cloud-based Independent Data Layer (IDL) service, solves this problem by enabling true ownership of building data, granting independence from digital services vendors.

By leveraging demand response and advanced energy optimization, Nobody Engineering allows a larger portion of consumed energy to come from renewable sources. This not only optimizes energy use within individual buildings but also contributes to a more sustainable and efficient energy grid.

Retrofitting for a Greener Future

Accessing modern optimization services has traditionally required modern automation infrastructure, which is out of reach for most of the world’s buildings. Nobody Engineering’s solution overcomes this barrier by simply plugging their device into the existing BAS. This retrofit, monthly subscription-based approach ensures that buildings of all ages can benefit from cutting-edge energy optimization services, driving significant energy savings without the capital expenditures typically associated with new automation systems.

Collaboration with Partners and Clients

Nobody Engineering has established itself as a preferred partner for digital service providers specializing in cloud-based energy optimization for buildings, particularly those struggling to integrate their services with legacy systems. Additionally, the company works directly with organizations managing large real estate portfolios, helping them optimize energy use across diverse building technologies.

The company’s process typically begins with a pilot project in a limited number of buildings, which is then expanded to cover the entire portfolio based on the client’s needs. The installation of Nobody Engineering’s device takes roughly 15 minutes per system, a process that can be managed by partners, the client with remote support, or Nobody Engineering’s team. This approach is not only time-efficient but also highly cost-effective compared to traditional methods.

Principles and Market Positioning

Nobody Engineering operates on three core principles:

1. Legacy First: The ability to retrofit and connect legacy BAS, which comprises the majority of the installed base, affordably.
2. Data Ownership and Vendor Independence: Through the IDL, building owners and operators gain true ownership of their data, providing freedom from vendor lock-in.
3. Connectivity Support: Rather than competing with optimization service providers, Nobody Engineering enhances their capabilities by providing essential connectivity.

These principles have positioned Nobody Engineering as a desirable partner for digital service providers and building owners alike. The company’s ability to minimize or eliminate customer capital expenditures (CAPEX) while maintaining good profit margins has made it an attractive option for impact investors focused on rapid growth.

One notable example of Nobody Engineering’s impact is its work with a major logistics company managing over 40 terminals and warehouses across Finland. These facilities feature a wide range of heterogeneous building technologies, with energy-consuming HVAC systems controlled by various brands, often lacking remote supervision or central coordination. Nobody Engineering’s solution offers the company an affordable alternative to expensive renovations, delivering energy savings of up to 20% without any CAPEX.

Recognizing the vast market potential, Nobody Engineering is actively expanding its presence. Currently operating in six countries, the company is forming new alliances with digital service providers looking to extend their Serviceable Addressable Market (SAM). The company continues to develop new technological solutions to work with emerging automation systems and partners, ensuring its position as a leader in the evolving building management landscape.

Nobody Engineering’s direct customers include large and medium-sized real estate portfolios focused on energy savings and carbon footprint reduction, as well as district heating companies. The company is led by Ville Ilkkala as CEO, Mikko Rantanen as CTO, Iridian Kiiskinen as Chief Architect, and Kari Ilkkala as CFO.

While solving current problems caused by past decisions, Nobody Engineering plans also to change how Building Automation Systems are built in the future. It is leading the charge to replace costly, proprietary hardware-based BAS with open IoT and Edge Computing-based systems. The company’s scalable solutions and use of common wireless components at an inexpensive price put it in a strong position to propel major global improvements in building management and energy saving.