With pressure growing to decarbonise the UK's building stock, the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) is calling for greater focus on how buildings are operated and managed, as we prepare to contribute to two key industry discussions at elementalLONDON, part of London Build Expo 2026.
Taking place at ExCeL London on 25–26 November, the event will bring together professionals from across construction, engineering, energy and property to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the built environment.
For much of our industry, the question is no longer simply how to design more sustainable buildings, but how to improve the commercial properties already in use. Building owners and operators face increasing pressure to reduce emissions, manage energy costs and meet changing expectations, often while working within the constraints of ageing infrastructure and limited budgets.
Major refurbishment and equipment replacement will have an important role to play, but there are also opportunities to achieve meaningful improvements through better management of existing building services. Understanding where energy is being wasted, identifying inefficient operation and ensuring systems respond to actual demand can all help reduce consumption without necessarily requiring significant capital investment.
Connecting technology with better outcomes
The growing connectivity of building systems offers new opportunities to understand how commercial properties operate. Heating, ventilation, cooling and other services can increasingly share information, helping operators identify inefficiencies and make more informed decisions.
However, the value of connectivity depends on what organisations do with that information. Without effective integration, clear operational objectives and the expertise to interpret building data, opportunities to improve efficiency can easily be missed.
These issues will be explored on Wednesday 25 November at 12pm, when Graeme Rees, Schneider Electric and BCIA Interim President, joins Swetta Coopanah, Head of Smart Energy Systems at BEAMA, for the panel discussion Optimising Connected Buildings, taking place on the Climate Solutions Stage.
The conversation will consider how our industry can make better use of connected technologies, ensuring greater access to information leads to better decisions and more effective building management.
The benefits extend beyond energy savings. Buildings that respond more effectively to changing occupancy and operational requirements can provide more comfortable environments, reduce unnecessary wear on equipment and support better-informed maintenance and investment decisions.
Making decarbonisation work in practice
While connected technologies can help organisations understand building performance, the wider challenge is translating that knowledge into meaningful progress on decarbonisation.
For commercial property owners, there is rarely a single solution. Buildings differ considerably in age, design, condition and use, while investment decisions must balance carbon reduction with operational demands and financial constraints.
Poorly coordinated heating and cooling, unnecessary plant operation and controls that no longer reflect how a building is used can all contribute to avoidable energy consumption. Addressing these issues requires a joined-up approach, with building controls specialists working alongside engineers, facilities managers and property owners to identify where improvements can be made.
This will be a central theme of the wider discussion on Decarbonising Commercial Buildings, taking place on Thursday 26 November at 1pm on the Climate Solutions Stage.
Oli Barker, Lloret and BCIA Management Committee Member, will join Nathan Wood, Chairperson of the Environmental Industries Association; Howard Noble, Innovation and Marketing Director at Beijer Ref UK; and Oliver Light, Principal Director of Real Estate at Accenture, to explore the challenges and opportunities involved in reducing emissions from commercial buildings.
Bringing together expertise from different areas of the built environment, the panel will consider how the industry can work more collaboratively to turn decarbonisation objectives into achievable outcomes.
Putting building controls at the heart of progress
Connectivity and decarbonisation are closely linked. Better information about how buildings operate can reveal where energy is being wasted, while effective controls provide the means to respond and sustain improvements over time.
The challenge is ensuring that this understanding informs decisions throughout a building's lifecycle, from design and specification through to commissioning, operation and future upgrades.
As an Association, we're committed to ensuring building controls expertise is part of the wider conversations shaping the built environment. Our sector has an important contribution to make, not only in delivering intelligent technology, but in helping building owners and operators understand what is achievable and where investment can have the greatest impact.
We're looking forward to contributing to both discussions and connecting with members and industry colleagues throughout the two-day event. If you're attending, we'd love to see you there. To find out more and plan your visit, visit www.londonbuildexpo.com.