Honeywell Smart Building Tech Boosts Energy Savings for H&M

The demand for smart buildings, especially in commercial settings, is on the rise.

Smart buildings offer a variety of benefits, including reduced energy consumption and improved operational efficiency.

And with energy prices climbing and environmental regulations tightening, retailers are under mounting pressure to make their operations more sustainable and cost-effective. 

In a bid to tackle this issue, Swedish multinational fashion brand H&M is adopting Honeywell cloud-based building automation technology across more than 90 of its stores in Southern Europe — showcasing how technology is transforming retail buildings into smart, efficient and resilient assets.

H&M stores and sustainability

Retailers like H&M are juggling two often juxtaposing priorities: controlling costs while meeting ambitious environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets. 

For H&M — which aims to reduce absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 56% by 2030 and by at least 90% by 2040, part of its long-term target to achieve net zero by 2040 — the integration of advanced building management is one way it is accelerating progress.

The retail giant has also committed to reducing electricity consumption per square metre in stores, which is where Honeywell’s products come in.

Honeywell’s Remote Building Manager solutions will be deployed in H&M stores in Spain, France, Italy, Belgium and Portugal.

This tech will be connected to a centralised database that tracks energy usage and identifies actionable insights for energy savings and optimised operations.

“With the integration of our advanced remote building management solutions and managed services, we are empowering H&M to optimise energy use and reduce maintenance costs, while also working to enhance the in-store experience,” says Sudhakar Janakiraman, President of Building Solutions at Honeywell Building Automation. 

“Our connected technology not only improves efficiency and comfort but also supports H&M’s broader commitment to reaching net zero, helping ensure a smarter, energy-conscious retail environment.” 

How Honeywell’s cloud-based building automation works

Traditional building management systems often require on-site infrastructure and manual oversight. 

Turning this on its head, Honeywell’s cloud-based Remote Building Manager offers centralised, real-time oversight of HVAC, lighting and energy systems from any device, anywhere. 

This approach brings several key advantages:

• Centralised control: One digital platform allows remote monitoring and management across all sites, reducing the need for on-site interventions and enabling portfolio-wide benchmarking
• Smart Optimisation: Real-time data analytics and machine learning continuously study each store’s energy consumption, automatically adjusting settings for optimal efficiency and comfort
• Scalability: Cloud-native systems can be rapidly deployed across multiple locations, future-proofing buildings against evolving regulations and business needs

How tech shapes H&M’s sustainability strategy

It’s not just stores that benefit from tech’s abilities when it comes to sustainability.

H&M has launched plans to create digital twins of its models for product campaigns, with Chief Creative Officer Jörgen Andersson saying using AI and digital twins is part of the company’s broader technology strategy.

“We are curious to explore how to showcase our fashion in new creative ways — and embrace the benefits of new technology — while staying true to our commitment to personal style,” he says.

But digital twin technology can provide a sustainability benefit, too.

“By creating digital twins of our products, customers can try on clothes virtually”, said Frans Borgstrand during his time developing 3D technology at H&M Group. 

“And, if these virtual try-ons are based on individual measurements, for example from a digital body scan, the customer is more likely to find the ultimate size of a garment.”

This will combat the issue of returns based on size — which H&M says makes up half of its returns volume.

“With the help of technology and this way of trying and experiencing products before deciding on a purchase, the number of returns could be reduced extensively in the future,” he adds.

3D technology has also helped H&M combat material waste, helping the brand move away from designing a product using traditional sketches and physical samples and favouring 3D-based design production.

Frans says: “Today, far too much fabric is used to create prototypes in the initial stage of the design process. 

“Using 3D technology dramatically cuts down the usage of that kind of material.”

Leyla Ertur, H&M’s Chief Sustainability Officer, adds: “Sustainability is at the heart of our business.

“We are always investigating new ideas and companies working with sustainability and technology that can help us transform our business.”

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