Bridging Data and Action: Turning Building Monitoring Into Measurable Results
Elemental Consulting Group recently presented this topic in the CIBSE Influence Theatre at the elementalLONDON event as part of a panel of like minding individuals, you will find the presentation on the profile of the author, our Director of Energy and Sustainability Richard Hipkiss.
How common is data paralysis in buildings and across industry?
We talk a lot about “data-driven buildings” — but the truth is most buildings already have more data than they know what to do with. Meters, BMS points, IoT sensors, dashboards… the data is there. What’s missing is the part that actually creates value: turning that data into action.
This is one of the biggest gaps we see across the industry. Teams are overwhelmed with information but under-equipped to make sense of it. Issues go unnoticed, energy gets wasted, and opportunities for optimisation slip through the cracks.
That’s the last mile problem of building performance. But it’s also a huge opportunity.
Data does not equal insights.
From Monitoring to Operational Intelligence
When we pair monitoring with modern technology, something powerful happens. Buildings shift from simply reporting what happened… to understanding why it happened and what to do about it.
The most impactful changes we have delivered come from three areas:
Automated anomaly detection Systems that continuously scan energy patterns and highlight when something is off — a rising baseload, out-of-hours usage, unexpected weather load. Instead of manually checking trend logs, teams get early warnings that prevent waste.
Actionable dashboards Not pages of charts, but clear insights tied to real decisions: energy intensity, runtime hours, schedule compliance, cost impact. Good dashboards give everyone — from FM teams to leadership — the confidence to act quickly.
Machine-learning-based FDD Fault Detection & Diagnostics tools that identify issues humans rarely see: simultaneous heating and cooling, control conflicts, sensor drift, heat pump inefficiencies. They reduce both waste and wear on equipment.
None of this replaces engineers — it amplifies them. Artificial intelligence is not about replacing people, it is about enhancing their abilities.
A Simple Example With Big Results
In one leisure office, a combination of anomaly detection and clearer operational dashboards led to:
- A reduction in annual energy use
- A drop in out-of-hours consumption
- Better evidence for retrofit decisions
And all of it was achieved using existing data — just analysed more intelligently.
What’s Holding Us Back?
The barriers are familiar: data silos, inconsistent naming, fragmented systems, limited time, and gaps in digital skills. But interoperability is improving fast. Open APIs and tagging standards like Haystack and Brick are helping us connect systems in a way that was impossible a few years ago. The goal is simpler buildings, not more complicated ones.
The Shift We Need
When monitoring evolves from “collecting data” to “driving improvement,” buildings become smarter, cheaper to run, and easier to decarbonise. The loop changes from:
Data → reports → nothing happens to Data → insight → action → measurable improvement.
This is where the real value lies. Monitoring isn’t about watching — it’s about improving. And the right technology makes that possible at scale.
If you have an interested or an need in this area please review the full presentation, follow Elemental Consulting Group for future insights and reach out if you would like to discuss or explore for your facilities.
Author: Richard Hipkiss, Director Energy and Sustainability, Elemental Consulting Group
23rd November 2025