Making Buildings Work Harder: A Practical Approach to Cutting Carbon

When businesses look at their carbon footprint, buildings are often the starting point - and for good reason. Heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, controls… it adds up quickly. The question isn’t whether the built environment matters. It’s how to manage it better, smarter, and with lasting impact. 

We work with clients who want to reduce emissions but need a path that makes sense - one that balances ambition with practical delivery. Often, that means digging into what’s already there before talking about what comes next. 

Where’s the energy going?

Most buildings already hold clues about where energy is being wasted - and where it can be saved. It might be systems running longer than they should, poorly calibrated controls or ageing equipment quietly draining power day after day. In some cases, a few targeted changes can deliver more impact than a full upgrade. At one prime Central London site - we helped our client replace inefficient axial fans with modern, energy-saving alternatives. No huge disruption, no massive outlay. Just a straightforward improvement that saved nearly 7,000 kWh in two months and cut over 1.4 tonnes of CO₂. Not a headline project - but it did exactly what it needed to. 

Is retrofitting the right step? 

Sometimes it is. Especially when older systems are coming to the end of their life. But it still needs to be considered carefully. At a large prestigious office property in the centre of Southampton, the client wanted to decarbonise and improve their EPC rating. Our project team completed the removal of gas-fired boilers and inefficient chillers, and installed VRF systems, heat recovery air handling units, and a 28kW solar PV array -  which helped shift the building from a EPC rating of C to an A rating (gov.uk).

That didn’t happen overnight. It took planning, phasing, coordination with multiple stakeholders - and a lot of experience on the ground. But the result? A building that runs more efficiently, costs less to operate, and aligns with long-term sustainability goals. 

What do the numbers say? 

In the UK, buildings account for around 59% of electricity use, leading to more than 30 million tonnes of indirect CO₂ emissions each year (The Climate Change Committee). That figure alone explains why property owners are under pressure to act. And many are - but the challenge isn’t always willingness. It’s knowing what to do, in what order, and how to make it achievable. 

How can businesses make a start? 

Start with what’s visible. Look at maintenance records. Audit plant performance. Interrogate energy data - and if there is no data, find a way to get it. Controls, ventilation settings, set points… these things often drift over time. Sometimes, just returning systems to where they should be is enough to drive notable savings. And when change is needed, work out the phasing. Not everything has to be done at once. Staggering upgrades - like swapping out old inefficient air handling units or chillers, shifting to electric heating, or integrating smart controls can allow for progress without putting pressure on capital all in one go.

What do clients want? 

Most clients we work with want three things: to reduce carbon, to improve energy efficiency, and to know the work has been done properly. Whether they’re at the feasibility stage or already committed to implementation, they need a partner who can see the detail, manage the risk, and bring people with them. That’s what we do. We’ve delivered projects for some of the UK’s most well-known commercial landlords and managing agents. Some are large-scale system overhauls. Others are quiet upgrades you’d barely notice from reception. But they all aim at the same thing - progress that’s measurable, resilient, and built to last. 

Looking ahead 

According to Energy UK, the transition to a low-carbon economy could support over 700,000 new jobs by 2030, with average wages 23% higher than the national average. That says a lot about where things are heading - and it’s happening already. Whether your building needs a full retrofit, or you’re just trying to work out where to begin, the first step is to take a proper look at what you’ve got - and plan from there.