Bueno Analytics London Event May 7, 2026 - How AI is Transforming Building Operations
Session 2: How the UKNZCBS and NABERS UK Are Reshaping Operational Building Performance
At Bueno Analytics’ London event, How AI is Transforming Building Operations, Hugh Amoyal, CEO of Bueno Analytics, sat down with Chris Wright, Head of Sustainability & Decarbonisation at Avison Young, for a fireside discussion on one of the biggest shifts currently underway in the UK property market: the move from sustainability targets to measurable operational performance.
The session explored how the UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard (UKNZCBS) and NABERS UK are beginning to reshape expectations around building performance, decarbonisation, and operational accountability across commercial real estate.
Rather than focusing purely on design intent or modelling assumptions, the discussion centred on a growing industry expectation that buildings must now prove how they actually perform once occupied and operational.
Why the UKNZCBS Was Created
Chris Wright explained that the UKNZCBS emerged largely due to the absence of formal government legislation defining what a true net zero building should look like in practice.
In response, a collaboration of major industry bodies including CIBSE, LETI, RIBA, RICS, BBP, and BRE worked together to establish a measurable framework for operational carbon performance across sectors including office, retail, healthcare, and industrial buildings.
Importantly, the framework was designed backwards from the UK’s 2050 net zero targets, creating sector-specific operational pathways designed to help the built environment align with national decarbonisation goals.
“This is linked wholly to the UK targets.”
— Chris Wright, Avison Young
Chris noted that one reason the UKNZCBS is attracting strong industry attention is because it provides one of the clearest operational pathways currently available for aligning buildings with the UK’s long-term decarbonisation objectives.
The Growing Role of NABERS UK
A major theme throughout the session was the increasing importance of NABERS UK as the industry moves toward operational verification rather than purely theoretical performance modelling.
While adoption remains relatively early compared with Australia, the discussion highlighted growing market recognition that NABERS UK provides a transparent, operationally focused benchmark for measuring how buildings actually perform in use.
Chris suggested that the alignment between NABERS UK and the UKNZCBS could significantly increase market adoption over time, particularly as investors, occupiers, and owners place greater scrutiny on measurable operational outcomes rather than simply collecting sustainability certifications.
“I think the standards are probably being questioned more now than they have in the past.”
— Chris Wright, Avison Young
The conversation also reinforced a broader industry shift already visible across the UK market:
- operational energy performance is becoming more important
- data quality is becoming increasingly critical
- continuous optimisation is replacing static reporting
- measurable outcomes are becoming more valuable than design intent alone
Data Quality & Operational Intelligence
One of the strongest technical discussions of the session focused on data quality and operational visibility.
When asked about the importance of accurate building data in delivering meaningful net zero outcomes, Chris reflected on his experience at Tesco, where the business operated with:
- 30,000 submeters
- 10 million data points per week
The discussion highlighted a growing challenge for the industry:
many organisations now have large volumes of building data, but far fewer have the operational frameworks, analytics capability, or workflows needed to convert that data into meaningful action.
This is where analytics platforms and AI-driven operational intelligence are beginning to play a much larger role.
Throughout the session, Hugh Amoyal reinforced that the industry is moving beyond simple metering and dashboards into a far more operational phase of analytics.
The focus is increasingly shifting toward:
- fault detection and diagnostics (FDD)
- operational optimisation
- data-driven maintenance (DDM)
- continuous commissioning
- AI-assisted workflows
- long-term building performance management
From Ambition to Operational Delivery
A recurring message throughout the fireside chat was that many organisations already have sustainability ambitions and net zero targets, but far fewer have clear operational pathways to achieve them.
The session reinforced that the next phase of decarbonisation will rely less on aspirational targets and more on:
- operational discipline
- verified building performance
- accurate data
- continuous optimisation
- scalable analytics frameworks
This is particularly important as the UK market continues shifting toward:
- NABERS UK
- Design for Performance (DfP)
- operational ESG reporting
- the UKNZCBS framework
The discussion also highlighted the growing role analytics platforms now play in helping bridge the gap between:
- design intent and operational reality
- sustainability targets and measurable outcomes
- static reporting and continuous optimisation
The Future of Operational Buildings
“Everyone’s done metering and reporting. Now it’s about what comes beyond the meter.”
— Hugh Amoyal, Bueno Analytics
As the session concluded, one message became increasingly clear:
the future of building performance in the UK will be operational, measurable, and data-driven.
Rather than relying solely on design-stage assumptions or annual reporting cycles, commercial real estate is steadily moving toward continuous operational performance management supported by analytics, AI, and measurable energy outcomes.
The fireside discussion provided attendees with a practical look at how the UKNZCBS and NABERS UK are accelerating this transition and why operational analytics is becoming an increasingly important part of the decarbonisation journey.
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