Coldwell Banker Portugal’s CEO Talks of “Smart Homes for Smart Cities”

20 February 2020 In a recent article in the Jornal Económico, the CEO of Coldwell Banker Portugal, Frederico Abecassis, wrote of the need to fully digitalize the real estate sector to help with decarbonization. The executive emphasized his belief that the sector will focus on reducing its carbon footprint this year and referred to the increasing interest in Smart Homes.

The concept of Smart Homes is rooted in updated construction techniques and materials and modern automation systems. The latter can include the programmed, automated control of heating, lighting, electrical, and security systems. Smart Cities also take advantage of the Internet of Things (IoT) to use data to monitor and manage traffic and transportation systems, power plants, utilities, water supply networks, waste management, policing, data networks, schools, libraries, hospitals, and other public services.

Mr. Abecassis addressed the need for modular, higher apartment blocks to better take advantage of limited urban spaces. The higher buildings would also free up space for parks, gardens, and playing fields. At the same time, the concurrent automatization of real estate sales and rentals is a key to the sector’s efforts to modernize and reduce its carbon footprint. The CEO of Coldwell Banker Portugal has hopes that the recent introduction of SIGIs in the country will attract sufficient international capital to leverage the needed changes.

Original Story: Jornal Económico – Frederico Abecassis

Translation/Summary: Richard D. Turner