H&M to deploy Honeywell tech for greener Southern Europe stores

H&M is implementing Honeywell's cloud-based building management technology at over 90 retail stores across Southern Europe to improve energy efficiency and reduce operational demands.

The collaboration spans stores in Spain, France, Italy, Belgium and Portugal. The initiative is aligned with H&M's broader strategy to lower electricity use per square metre and progress towards its target of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

Honeywell's Remote Building Manager system will be installed in each participating store, connecting them to a central database that tracks energy usage and generates insights for lowering energy consumption and optimising building operations.

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

"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," he ssaid.

The Honeywell platform provides centralised, real-time oversight of heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), lighting and other energy systems in the stores. This capability enables clearer identification of actions to improve efficiency and supports cost-saving measures.

According to Honeywell, the system's remote monitoring capacity is designed to reduce the need for on-site interventions, allowing H&M to maintain operational resilience across a geographically dispersed portfolio. Immediate visibility into building conditions aims to facilitate quick responses in the event of any issue at individual locations. Through a single digital platform, facility teams can manage multisite operations and address issues without deploying additional personnel.

Beyond centralisation and visibility, the Remote Building Manager system is part of a broader stack that includes Honeywell Multisite Services and the Honeywell Forge IoT platform. This brings advanced monitoring and analytics to the table, enabling condition-based maintenance and supporting the reliability of key building systems 24 hours a day. Honeywell Forge's machine learning capabilities will analyse energy usage patterns at each site continuously.

According to Honeywell, the technology's intended benefits include a reduction in unplanned reactive maintenance and lower energy costs, contributing to both sustainability and business efficiency goals.

The scalable infrastructure is cited as a factor in helping H&M work towards its net zero roadmap, with flexibility to support wider portfolio expansion and evolving environmental requirements in the retail sector.

Honeywell characterised the project as evidence of how building automation can help retailers meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets, improve operational resilience, and enhance in-store experiences for customers.

The company says that the partnership between H&M and Honeywell underscores a focus on automated energy management and digital transformation in the context of contemporary energy and sustainability pressures facing European retailers.