Revolutionary approach

Chris Coath, Director of Energy and Asset Management at NG Bailey presents a step-by-step guide to adopting smarter strategies that can help you revolutionise your energy management

The landscape of mechanical & electrical (M&E) asset maintenance has evolved dramatically. Gone are the days when simply toggling systems on and off was enough to save energy. Today’s buildings must balance multiple demands, air quality, uptime, and flexible workspaces—all while reducing energy consumption and meeting ambitious sustainability targets. With net zero on the horizon, facilities managers must rethink their approach.

At NG Bailey, we help organisations across industries tackle these challenges, with processes that deliver proven results. In 2024 our digital maintenance approach saved over £200k in a single building and reduced energy consumption by over eight per cent in a world-class critical environment.

Here’s our step-by-step guide to building an effective, future-ready M&E maintenance strategy.

START WITH GOALS, NOT JUST DATA

Data dashboards are valuable, but before diving into analytics, platforms and sensors, define your objectives. What matters most? Reducing energy consumption? Boosting uptime? Aligning with net zero commitments? Every building has unique priorities, and your maintenance strategy must reflect them.

For example, a bank’s HQ may prioritise uninterrupted uptime, while a general office building might focus on energy optimisation to hit sustainability targets. Asking the right questions upfront, what are the key pain points? What are the success metrics? – sets the stage for success.

FOCUS YOUR TEAMS

Before implementing digital maintenance, get the basics right.

Start by tracking your energy consumption. If you’re not monitoring your building’s monthly energy use, you’re flying blind. Even a simple spreadsheet using utility bills is a good start. Review it each month with building managers and the maintenance team. This is the highest-impact, lowest-cost activity you can undertake, with significant potential savings.

More than just reviewing data, this step aligns teams around performance and reinforces the importance of on-site actions in achieving broader goals.

LAY A STRONG FOUNDATION

A complete asset inventory is critical. If you lack a detailed asset register, consider hiring specialists to conduct a survey. Across hundreds of clients, our surveys have kickstarted net zero transformations, improved project planning, and optimised maintenance costs.

Building on step two, it’s now time to automate your energy reporting. A simple cloud-based system can host utility data, sub-metering, and other relevant data feeds, enabling detailed analysis on both energy and carbon performance. With teams already focused on building performance, they’ll appreciate the deeper insights and greater savings this additional layer of data can provide.

LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY FOR SMARTER MAINTENANCE

Technology is transforming maintenance, allowing for optimised performance even in older buildings. Now, we build on the previous steps by introducing smarter digital tools.

One widely used technology across our customer base is the latest generation of IoT sensors. Even if your building isn’t “smart,” our IoT (Internet of Things) sensors provide real-time performance insights without a costly overhaul. In a recent office project, we installed sensors to monitor occupancy, space temperatures, and critical plant performance in just half a day. By close of business, live data was already flowing, allowing for real-time energy and asset performance monitoring.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a modern Building Management System (BMS), we can extract this data directly, eliminating the need for an IoT deployment. This approach, while requiring a few additional steps, delivers even more powerful results.

The key is selecting the right strategy for your building.

ANALYTICS: YOUR NEW STRATEGIC WEAPON

With data now in hand, you can make an even greater impact. Analytical tools consolidate asset performance, energy usage, and maintenance needs into a single, intuitive interface, eliminating guesswork and delivering actionable insights.

This enables true digital maintenance, including:

• Monitoring building health
• Controlling energy consumption
• Implementing dynamic maintenance schedules
• Moving towards predictive repairs
• Roadmap for net zero transformation

One of my personal highlights is influencing change before an issue escalates into a user complaint. Whether it’s addressing a boiler fault on a winter morning thanks to a critical alarm notification or proactively optimising office temperatures for maximum comfort, these are the real benefits of digital maintenance.

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER

By combining clear objectives, foundational data, digital tools, and cutting-edge technology, facilities managers can transform M&E maintenance from a reactive task into a strategic powerhouse. Digital maintenance not only keeps buildings running—it optimises energy use, extends asset lifecycles, and propels organisations closer to net zero.

While implementing digital maintenance systems requires an upfront investment, the long-term gains in efficiency, cost savings, and sustainability are undeniable. At NG Bailey, we typically see paybacks within six months to two years, but the benefits extend far beyond financial returns.

When executed effectively, these strategies align frontline FM teams and senior executives alike, ensuring a shared vision for long-term sustainability and operational excellence.