When sustainability targets outpace building systems

Buildings are designed to operate for decades. Sustainability targets, energy expectations and operational requirements can change much faster.

That creates a growing challenge for commercial property owners. A building can remain a high-quality asset while its mechanical and electrical systems need to evolve to meet new expectations for efficiency, resilience, visibility and occupant comfort.

As building systems mature, better data, targeted interventions and continuous optimisation can help owners improve the performance of assets already in place.

At 91 King William Street, an A-Grade office tower in Adelaide, a structured digital optimisation program has shown how predictive analytics, remote monitoring and targeted Energy Conservation Measures can improve the sustainability performance of existing assets without compromising tenant experience.

Digital optimisation starts with visibility

The initiative began with a comprehensive Building Management System energy audit. This established how the building’s systems were operating and identified targeted opportunities to reduce energy demand, improve heating, ventilation and air conditioning responsiveness, and strengthen monitoring of critical equipment.

That clearer view of system behaviour gave the team a more precise basis for action.

Turn maintenance into optimisation

The program was delivered through Schneider Electric’s EcoCare Advanced service model, combining predictive analytics, remote monitoring and condition-based maintenance with on-site engineering support.

Continuous data analysis allowed the team to move from reactive maintenance to proactive performance optimisation. Instead of waiting for equipment to fail or comfort issues to emerge, the building team could use current operating data to identify performance opportunities and intervene earlier.

This shift extended HVAC asset life by at least 20%, showing how better maintenance intelligence can support both sustainability goals and long-term asset value.

The program also improved thermal comfort across all 30 floors while strengthening system visibility and HVAC responsiveness.

Lower consumption delivered the sustainability gain, while improved comfort showed that efficiency did not come at the expense of the tenant experience.

A structured path to measurable gains

At 91 King William Street, the process followed a clear sequence: identify the opportunity, implement targeted measures, analyse the results and refine system performance.

The Building Management System audit informed a series of targeted Energy Conservation Measures.

Stage 1 delivered immediate efficiency improvements. Following that success, Stage 2 was commissioned and entered final system tuning and Measurement and Verification.

Across the program, overall annual energy demand fell by almost 50%, with HVAC electricity use cut by almost half and gas consumption declining by 5% year on year.

Sustainability as an asset strategy

For Abacus Group, the project connected lower energy demand with longer equipment life and improved tenant comfort. Together, those outcomes support portfolio-wide sustainability objectives while protecting long-term asset value.

Louise Monger, Vice President Digital Energy at Schneider Electric, said the project reflects the growing role of intelligent, sustainable buildings in commercial property.

“Smart, sustainable buildings are no longer a future ambition, they are a business priority. The real opportunity lies in unlocking more performance from the buildings we already have.

At 91 King William Street, digital services and continuous optimisation have delivered measurable energy savings, improved tenant comfort and extended the life of critical infrastructure. That’s the power of combining data, expertise and long-term thinking to create buildings that are not only more efficient, but more resilient and future-ready.”

Same building assets, new sustainability gains

Further Energy Conservation Measures are planned at 91 King William Street, building on the reductions in energy use, longer HVAC life and improved thermal comfort already achieved.

Sustainability must be actively managed throughout a building’s life. Digital services make system behaviour visible, guide targeted action and provide the evidence needed to verify results.

91 King William Street shows that substantial gains do not always begin with new assets. They can begin by seeing more clearly, intervening earlier and extracting more value from the infrastructure already in place.

The building assets shaping a lower-energy future may already be standing. The next step is to make them perform like it.

Image credit: iStock.com/Sakorn Sukkasemsakorn