Insights from Avison Young and Bueno Analytics on the Role of Smart Building Analytics
The opening session of Bueno’s Beyond the Meter: Decarbonising Buildings at Scale with Smart Building Analytics event in London set the tone for the evening — an honest, practical look at how data and analytics are reshaping the path to net zero.
Hosted by Hugh Amoyal, CEO of Bueno Analytics, the London Fireside Chat on Delivering Net Zero featured Chris Wright, Director and Head of Sustainability and Decarbonisation at Avison Young. Together, they explored the commercial property sector’s progress toward net zero, the remaining challenges, and how smart building analytics can help bridge the gap between ambition and operational delivery.
Both speakers share a long history in energy and sustainability — Chris from his time leading engineering and carbon reduction at Tesco’s global estate, and Hugh from Bueno’s work delivering data-driven optimisation across some of the world’s largest portfolios. The result was a grounded, experience-led discussion on what it truly takes to deliver measurable decarbonisation at scale.
From Corporate Delivery to Consulting Influence
Chris began by reflecting on his transition from Tesco, where he managed a portfolio of more than 5,000 sites across five countries, to his current role at Avison Young, advising clients on sustainability, energy efficiency, and net-zero strategy.
“At Tesco, we built a 12-year pathway to reach net zero in scopes 1 and 2 by 2035,” Chris explained. “By the time I left, we were 65% of the way there — five points ahead of target. But after building that plan, I realised I wanted to help more organisations make the same leap — moving from ambition to action.”
That phrase, ambition to action, became the defining theme of the London Fireside Chat. As Chris noted, many organisations understand what needs to be done and why, but few have mastered the how.
“The ‘how’ is what’s missing,” he said. “And that’s where good data and good process come in.”
The UK Energy Landscape: Challenges and Capacity Growth
Before diving into analytics, the conversation stepped back to consider the broader UK energy context. Chris highlighted that while progress is being made — with 45% of grid power now coming from renewables — the country faces steep challenges ahead.
“To reach 95% renewable power by 2030, the UK must more than double its generating capacity,” he said. “That’s just to maintain current demand. Once you factor in data centres and AI, the need rises exponentially.”
Both speakers agreed that the journey to net zero isn’t only about generating more renewable energy — it’s equally about reducing existing consumption through better management, optimisation, and analytics.
This dual strategy forms the backbone of the London Fireside Chat on Delivering Net Zero, highlighting how data-led insights can turn ambitious goals into achievable results.
Analytics as the Foundation of Delivering Net Zero
At this point in the London Fireside Chat on Delivering Net Zero conversation, the focus shifted to smart building analytics — a central theme of the London Fireside Chat. Both speakers agreed that data underpins every stage of decarbonisation.
At Tesco, Chris managed over 30,000 sub-meters, generating 10 million data points every week.
“By modelling each store against its baseline — essentially creating a digital twin — we saved £7 million annually just by acting on exceptions within 24 hours,” he explained. “And that’s before spending any major capital.”
Hugh added that the same approach now drives Bueno’s work across commercial real estate:
“At some point, metering alone isn’t enough,” he said. “You can see your energy’s high, but you can’t see why. That’s where analytics comes in. Every five minutes, our platform takes an ECG of the building — it doesn’t just say something’s wrong; it tells you what’s wrong and how to fix it.”
Low-Cost Action Before Capital Spend
One of the session’s key messages was that low- or no-cost actions should come before capital investment.
“Before we spent hundreds of millions on upgrades, I asked our CFO for £3 million just to focus on analytics,” Chris shared. “You must prove you’ve done everything operationally before spending on capex. It’s just good governance.”
This principle — analytics first, investment second — lies at the heart of Bueno’s platform philosophy. By identifying performance drift and validating energy savings through near real-time data, Bueno ensures that every dollar of capex aligns with measurable outcomes.
Breaking the Barriers: From Paralysis to Progress
When asked about the barriers that still hold back progress, Chris called out what he termed “macro-level paralysis.”
“There’s so much talk about billions and trillions that it scares people into inaction,” he said. “But when you break it down, it’s achievable. Start with your data, understand your baseline, optimise what you have, and then align investments. Progress follows clarity.”
A 2023 EY report supports that view — showing that while 95% of FTSE 100 companies have net-zero targets, only 5% have credible delivery plans.
For both Hugh and Chris, smart building analytics provides the bridge between ambition and action — enabling that delivery with evidence, not estimates.
The Human Factor in Net Zero Delivery
Both speakers stressed that technology alone isn’t enough.
“You can have the best analytics system in the world, but if people don’t know what they’re looking at, it’s useless,” Chris observed.
Hugh agreed: “That’s why our focus is on accessibility. We want analytics to empower people, not overwhelm them. The real value of AI and machine learning is in how they help teams act faster and smarter.”
This focus on connecting people, process, and technology reflects how Bueno Analytics works alongside partners like Avison Young, Accenture, and Verco, helping them scale data-driven decision-making across complex portfolios.
London Fireside Chat on Delivering Net Zero Audience Questions:
The Q&A that followed continued the session’s pragmatic tone.
Gavin Lane (Accenture) asked about the “spark gap” — the cost difference between gas and electricity — and how it affects electrification.
Chris noted: “Until the cost burden shifts from electricity to gas, we’ll always face an economic barrier to full electrification.”Matt (Energy Consultant) asked how organisations can overcome internal inertia.
“People get caught up in firefighting,” Chris said. “We need to move from reaction to strategy. That’s the only way to decarbonise efficiently.”
These exchanges reinforced the fireside chat’s central message: delivering net zero requires operational discipline as much as strategic intent.
A Shared Mission from the London Fireside Chat on Delivering Net Zero
As the London Fireside Chat on Delivering Net Zero session closed, Hugh captured the essence of the conversation:
“Everyone’s done metering and reporting. Now it’s about what comes beyond the meter. With analytics and AI, we can make decisions faster and with more certainty than ever before.”
Both speakers agreed that progress depends on collaboration, technology, and leadership.
For Avison Young, that means helping clients act on credible, data-backed roadmaps to net zero.
For Bueno Analytics, it means continuing to refine the AI-driven platform that helps organisations deliver measurable, scalable, and sustainable outcomes.
Chris Wright
Head of Sustainability UK, Avison Young
Hugh Amoyal
CEO, Bueno
And thanks to our event partners:
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