Leading FM teams across the UK’s public and private sectors are embracing integrated energy strategies — where energy monitoring, planned maintenance, and sustainability initiatives are interconnected to deliver more resilient, efficient, and greener estates. Here’s how delegates at the FM Forum are taking on the task…
The traditional approach to energy management, focused solely on reducing consumption or meeting compliance obligations, is being replaced by a broader, more strategic vision. Facilities leaders are recognising that to meet Net Zero goals, comply with regulations like ESOS Phase 3, and control operating costs, energy data must be embedded into every aspect of estate management.
Energy monitoring remains the critical first step. Smart meters, IoT sensors, and sub-metering systems now provide real-time, granular visibility across individual buildings, zones, or assets. But the most progressive organisations aren’t just collecting data—they’re acting on it. By analysing patterns in consumption, facilities teams can identify inefficiencies that signal deeper issues, such as equipment operating outside optimal parameters or poorly insulated building envelopes.
This is where integrating energy insights with maintenance planning comes into play. Predictive maintenance strategies, informed by energy anomalies, allow facilities managers to proactively service or replace underperforming assets before they fail. For example, a spike in energy use from a chiller unit could trigger an inspection or service visit automatically via the CAFM system. This approach reduces unplanned downtime, extends equipment lifespan, and significantly cuts energy waste.
Sustainability goals are also increasingly tied into this integrated framework. Many organisations now track Scope 1, 2, and even Scope 3 emissions through their energy management platforms. Facilities teams are using this data to prioritise retrofit projects—such as LED lighting upgrades, solar panel installations, and HVAC improvements—based not just on theoretical savings, but on verified performance insights. Crucially, these investments are aligned with broader corporate ESG strategies and can be evidenced through accurate, real-time reporting.
Another growing trend is the use of integrated dashboards that combine energy performance, maintenance KPIs, and carbon reduction progress into a single view. This enables facilities managers, finance teams, and sustainability officers to collaborate more closely, ensuring that decisions around capital expenditure, refurbishment, or operational changes are informed by shared data.
Partnerships also play a crucial role. Many facilities leaders are working with energy services providers, technology platforms, and specialist consultants who can deliver integrated solutions – combining energy auditing, digital monitoring, predictive analytics, and net zero advisory into a single service model.
The facilities teams achieving the biggest gains are those that view energy management not as a standalone function, but as a strategic pillar embedded across estate operations. By linking monitoring, maintenance, and sustainability into one intelligent system, they are building estates that are smarter, greener, and future-ready.
Are you searching for Energy Management solutions for your organisation? The Facilities Management Summit can help!
Photo by Nejc Soklič on Unsplash
