IES Partners with UKGBC to Advance Operational Building Optimisation

We are excited to share that IES has joined forces with the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) and several partner organisations to spearhead a new project initiative, centred around optimising operational building performance.

The Operational Building Optimisation Action Learning Labs, part of the UKGBC’s Advancing Net Zero (ANZ) programme, aim to address the critical challenges and solutions needed to reduce and eliminate inefficiencies in building operation, and significantly drive down energy consumption.

Bringing together industry leaders and other key stakeholders, the project will explore and share insights on optimising building energy use through real case study examples. Through a series of workshops, the initiative aims to deepen industry understanding of how operational inefficiencies arise and how they can be mitigated, with expected project outputs to include:

• Compendium of knowledge and experience of how to optimise building energy use.
• Toolkit to support optimisation activities, including the soft skills needed to support mutually beneficial relationships and collaboration between key stakeholders.
• Increased knowledge and skills base to encourage a focus on optimisation opportunities and solutions.
• Insights into the most appropriate interventions in different situations.
• A shift in thinking that supports an iterative, long-term approach to optimising performance.

Why Building Optimisation Matters

The significance of building optimisation cannot be overstated in the transition to net-zero buildings.  A finding of the UKGBC’s Commercial Retrofit programme highlighted that, on average, nearly one-third of energy use intensity (EUI) can be reduced through optimisation alone. However, achieving this requires more than just technological solutions; it demands increased awareness and collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure that building systems are optimised holistically and sustainably.

Mark Gifford, Associate Director – Energy Services, at IES, comments: “Having worked extensively with clients over the years to optimise the operational performance of their buildings, we at IES know all too well the importance of optimisation, data analytics and data-driven workflows when it comes to enhancing the energy efficiency and overall carbon performance of our built environment.

Through this project, we look forward to sharing many of the insights and lessons we have learned over the years, as well as collaborating with the UKGBC and fellow project partners to provide tangible guidance to ensure optimisation is fully embedded as part of a best practice approach to achieving net-zero buildings. Helping building owners, operators and tenants to unlock real energy, carbon and cost savings as they strive to achieve their decarbonisation goals.”

For more information, read the full announcement on the UKGBC website.