The global electrical landscape is experiencing a significant transformation, highlighted by the rising importance of direct current (DC) power in building systems.

This report offers a detailed analysis for electrical engineers, contractors, and systems designers. It examines the strategic value of specialized DC testing facilities, the changing dynamics of outsourcing in low-voltage and DC work, the urgent need to adopt DC power, and the essential role of integrated testing throughout the project lifecycle.

Key findings indicate that facilities like the DC Systems’ Experience Center are invaluable for de-risking innovation and fostering collaboration in this nascent field. While outsourcing remains prevalent for capacity management, a discernible shift toward insourcing core DC competencies is emerging, driven by the need for quality control and intellectual property protection amid industry skill gaps. DC power is increasingly essential for energy efficiency, renewable integration, and smart building functionality, despite existing challenges in standardization and workforce knowledge.

The report emphasizes that robust, iterative testing and commissioning protocols are paramount for ensuring safe, compliant, and high-performing DC installations. Ultimately, proactive investment in DC expertise, strategic engagement with evolving standards, and rigorous process implementation are vital for electrical professionals to thrive in this rapidly changing environment.

The convergence of onsite power generation, fault-managed power (FMP), and battery-integrated agile furniture represents a significant paradigm shift in the architectural and engineering design of direct current (DC)-powered buildings, addressing extant technical limitations in energy distribution and the dynamic configuration of work environments.

Analysis of recent commercial real estate market reports indicates that the total commercial office space in the United States is estimated to be approximately 4.8 billion square feet as of the first quarter of 2025.[1] This figure reflects the culmination of years of development, but the market is undergoing significant shifts. Key trends impacting the sector include elevated vacancy rates, fluctuating net absorption, a deceleration in new construction, and increasing office space conversions to alternative uses. While leasing activity has shown signs of recovery in some segments, the overall outlook suggests a period of stabilization and transformation for the U.S. commercial office space market.

Modern commercial buildings face significant, yet often underestimated, financial burdens stemming from inflexible and inefficient traditional Alternating Current (AC) power infrastructure. This report quantifies these costs, revealing substantial drains related to underutilized real estate, excessive energy consumption, disruptive and expensive reconfigurations, and tangible safety hazards. The analysis demonstrates that outdated power systems impose direct operational costs and hinder the agility required in today's dynamic business environment.

For decades, the commercial office environment has been constrained by traditional, wired infrastructure limitations. This static approach, defined by desks tethered to wall outlets, has created persistent challenges for everyone involved in developing and managing these spaces, from commercial real estate owners and architects to facility managers, interior designers, IT professionals, and electrical design firms.

At August Berres, we recognized these frustrations as fundamental barriers to productivity, adaptability, and well-being in the workplace. Addressing these chronic issues is precisely what drives our mission.

The recent widespread power outage that plunged parts of the Iberian Peninsula into darkness served as a stark reminder of our reliance on a stable electricity grid. For many businesses, the sudden disruption translated into significant financial losses, operational chaos, and a frantic scramble to maintain essential functions. However, amidst the challenges, a beacon of resilience emerged: building microgrids.

The modern office environment is in constant flux. Driven by the need for flexibility, collaboration, and technological integration, today's workstations demand more power and connections than ever. From multiple high-resolution monitors and powerful laptops to docking stations and a plethora of peripherals, the requirements of a single desk can easily exceed the capabilities of traditional AC power delivery methods.

While fault-managed power (FMP) systems offer a compelling vision of resilient, safe, and controlled power distribution within buildings, the cost of deploying individual FMP receivers at each desk has often been a significant barrier to widespread adoption. While convenient for some devices, Power over Ethernet (PoE) lacks the capacity for these more demanding setups.

This is where battery-powered workstations emerge as a transformative solution, acting as the crucial link that unlocks the true potential of fault-managed power in the contemporary office landscape. By strategically integrating battery technology at the desk level, we can overcome the limitations of Power over Ethernet (PoE) and the economic hurdles of extensive direct FMP deployment, paving the way for truly agile and reliably powered workspaces.

The conversation around the modern workplace is dominated by adaptability. Commercial real estate owners are seeking properties that attract forward-thinking tenants, architects are designing spaces for maximum flexibility, facility managers are tasked with optimizing dynamic environments, and electrical design firms are grappling with the demands of ever-changing layouts.

While the concept of the "flexible workspace" – offering employees a choice of work settings – has gained traction, achieving true "agility" – the inherent ability to easily and cost-effectively reconfigure the physical space itself – remains a significant challenge, largely due to the constraints of traditional power infrastructure.

The discussion around Direct Current (DC) power in commercial buildings is gaining momentum, fueled by its potential for enhanced energy efficiency and seamless renewable energy integration. However, a common concern in the industry is whether embracing DC necessitates a costly and disruptive rip-and-replace of existing Alternating Current (AC) infrastructure.

The reality is far more pragmatic: the future of building power lies in a hybrid AC/DC approach, particularly when considering the practicalities of building retrofits.

The question of why direct current (DC) power hasn't yet revolutionized our buildings often sparks debate among owners, facilities managers, and architects. A common assumption is that our ingrained reliance on alternating current (AC) powered devices, particularly computers, acts as an insurmountable barrier. While the historical dominance of AC infrastructure and the vast ecosystem of AC-powered electronics undeniably play a significant role, this perspective overlooks the evolving landscape of technology and the compelling advantages of DC power in modern buildings.

For professionals across industries, particularly those focused on sustainability, finance, and operations, the Energy Savings Insurance (ESI) model presents a compelling solution to accelerate the adoption of energy efficiency upgrades, especially within the SME sector. ESI strategically addresses a key barrier: the perceived risk associated with realizing projected energy savings.

California's commitment to energy efficiency is reflected in Title 24, officially known as the Building Energy Efficiency Standards. Published and regularly updated by the California Energy Commission (CEC), these comprehensive regulations aim to decrease energy consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings throughout the state. Updated every three years to incorporate the latest technological advancements, the current version of Title 24 took effect in January 2023 and will remain the standard until January 2026.