The focus in technological development has been on the development and management of building services packages. This has meant that the internal synergies of a large company have been translated into a competitive edge. By combining competence in different fields into functional wholes, the company has created a receptive environment for a new technological culture. This is confirmed by the fact that the Sensus system, which is a trailblazer among comprehensive building services systems, has become an established concept in the industry.

Are forms networks for the general development of its businesses by participating in key joint development projects in the industry.

One of these is the Basics of the Energy Services Business research project which Are will carry out in co-operation with the Helsinki University of Technology’s Laboratory of Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning. The project conducts a year-round study of the use of a model property and the operations of its building services using 900 measurement points. By analysing the resulting data, the project’s organisers aim to find certain regularities that explain energy consumption in properties, and these will be later utilised in the optimisation of energy usage on customers’ premises.

Other joint development projects in the industry that Are has participated in include

• CubeNet, future life cycle services for building services 
• Busy, innovative building services systems of the future
• SMINT, intelligent and integrated building services control
• Commissioning, conditions and energy efficiency commissioning services in properties
• RET, calculation of buildings’ energy efficiency
• Productive Office 2005
• Real Estate ServicesNetwork co-operation
• IEA Annex 37, international energy research programme for low-exergy systems
• Altech, new generation lighting technology