IGBC Lunch & Learn: Why Smart Buildings Don’t Always Deliver Energy Savings – and How to Fix It

Are your “smart buildings” actually wasting energy?

Smart technologies promise lower energy use, better performance, and measurable ROI.

Yet many buildings packed with advanced systems continue to underperform.

Why?

Because the real issue is rarely the technology itself.
It’s the gap between design intent and operational reality.

This 60-minute Lunch & Learn will explore why smart buildings often fail to deliver expected energy savings — and more importantly, what can be done about it.

What We’ll Cover

• Why high-performance designs often break down in operation
• Common BMS and controls integration failures
• Commissioning and handover gaps that undermine performance
• The difference between raw building data and actionable insight
• Practical steps to close the performance gap
• How to verify performance and ensure continuous optimisation

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

✔ Identify the common causes of the energy performance gap
✔ Recognise typical BMS and controls integration failures
✔ Distinguish between raw data and meaningful performance intelligence
✔ Improve collaboration between designers, contractors and facilities teams
✔ Evaluate whether “smart” technologies are delivering measurable ROI
✔ Develop a high-level action plan for performance verification and optimisation

Who Should Attend?

This session is ideal for:

• Facilities Managers
• Building Owners & Real Estate Investors
• Sustainability & Energy Managers
• MEP Engineers
• BIM & Building Design Professionals
• Construction Project Managers & Developers
• Energy Efficiency Consultants
• BMS & Building Automation Specialists
• ESG & Sustainability Reporting Professionals
• Public Sector Infrastructure & Housing Managers
• Retrofit & Modernisation Professionals

If you are responsible for building performance, operational energy use, or sustainability outcomes — this session is for you.

Speakers

 Mike Arnold

Chartered Engineer with over 20 years of global experience in smart buildings, mechanical and electrical systems, and high-performance building technology.

Conor Cleary

Global expert in smart buildings and intelligent workplaces, recognised for integrating electrical, mechanical, controls, security, and IT systems into seamless, future-ready environments.

Why This Matters Now

Energy performance targets are tightening.
ESG reporting expectations are rising.
Operational performance is under increasing scrutiny.

Technology alone won’t solve the problem.

Understanding how to bridge the gap between design and operation will.

Secure Your Place

This session will provide practical, immediately applicable insights — not theory. This session is for IGBC Members Only.

👉 Register now to ensure your place. Teams link will be shared 48 hours prior to the session.