When I was younger, family members would often give me a call for advice when it was time to buy a new computer.

The conversation was the same. There were so many different brands and so many different prices it was difficult for them to sort through. They would always want to know: Should they get a Dell? An HP? Or a Gateway?

I rarely recommended a brand. Instead, I asked: "What do you want to do with it?" Someone who only needs a computer for basic word processing and occasional Web surfing differs from someone who wants to use it for games or to help young children learn. I ended by saying they should consider their needs and only buy what they need.

Invariably, I would be ignored. Instead, they would go out and snatch up an overpriced computer from a big box store full of software that they didn't need and never used. A few months later they would call to ask if I could help them fix a computer that was too complicated for them to use.

If this sounds foolish, it is. It's also frustrating to keep fixing mistakes that could have been avoided. But in the facility world, the exact same thing can happen with building automation systems.

Just recently, a well-meaning reader called after researching various automation systems on the FaclitiesNet Buyer's Guide. He rattled off a number of companies and wanted to know: How should he decide between them? That's an enormous question to answer - one we have devoted entire articles to in Building Operating Management.

But in the end, my advice was pretty simple: Don't start with the brands. Start by evaluating your needs, and then see how the offerings stack up. Because just like a computer, a BAS that is too complicated will quickly frustrate operators and get bypassed, driving up energy costs. That's just as bad as a BAS that is too limited to meet the full scope of a facility's needs.