Graeme Hamilton, Business Director – Energy, OCS
The race to net zero is reshaping every aspect of the built environment. From heat decarbonisation to intelligent energy management, organisations are under pressure to cut carbon without compromising operational resilience. Yet amid the complexity of legislation, funding, and technology, one truth stands out: facilities management (FM) teams are uniquely positioned to lead this transition.
FM: The hidden engine of decarbonisation
Facilities managers already sit at the crossroads of compliance, operations, and cost control. They understand how estates function day-to-day, and they hold the levers that influence energy performance: from plant maintenance to asset lifecycle planning. This makes FM not just a delivery partner, but a strategic enabler of decarbonisation.
However, the role of FM in energy transition is often underestimated. Too many organisations still view sustainability as a separate workstream, disconnected from core facilities operations. That mindset needs to change. If net zero is to be achievable, FM needs to move from reactive maintenance to proactive energy management: embedding carbon reduction into every decision about how buildings are run.
The challenges: Cost, capability, and compliance
For many estates, the barriers to decarbonisation can fall under three categories:
- Cost: Low-carbon technologies demand significant upfront investment. Heat pumps, smart controls, and on-site generation are expensive, and traditional budgeting models rarely account for lifecycle savings.
- Capability: Many organisations lack the in-house expertise to design and deliver complex energy projects. Understanding energy grid constraints, asset optimisation, and funding routes requires specialist knowledge.
- Compliance: Legislation is evolving fast. From Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) to climate change agreements, the regulatory landscape is complex and the penalties for non-compliance are a major risk.
FM teams can address all three. They already manage complex frameworks, they can integrate energy strategy into operational planning, and they can unlock funding streams that make projects viable. At OCS, we’ve helped public sector customers secure grants under public sector decarbonisation schemes, while building investment cases based on lifecycle costing rather than short-term spend.
AI in energy management: Promise vs reality
Technology is another critical piece of the puzzle. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are often touted as game-changers for energy management. Today, the technology is delivering real value in predictive maintenance and asset optimisation. For FM teams, this means moving away from reactive fixes to predictive maintenance. Algorithms can spot performance deviations early, allowing interventions before failures occur. This can result in reduced downtime while improving a building’s energy efficiency.
However, there are caveats. Deployment remains patchy as AI-enabled systems are expensive and require scale to be most effective. For most estates, the challenge is not access to technology, it’s integration. Tools and applications must be embedded into FM workflows, not bolted on as standalone solutions. In the years ahead, expect AI to become a mandated part of asset management. For now, FM leaders should focus on practical use cases that deliver measurable savings, rather than chasing the hype.
Funding without friction
One of the biggest misconceptions about decarbonisation initiatives is that they slow down operations. In reality, the opposite is true, but only if the projects are planned and funded correctly. The key is to align energy upgrades with existing maintenance cycles and capital programmes. Replacing end-of-life assets with low-carbon alternatives, for example, avoids duplication of cost and disruption.
Funding is available, particularly in the public sector, but accessing it requires expertise. Grant schemes prioritise projects based on carbon cost, and applications demand access to robust data. FM teams, supported by partners, can provide that evidence by mapping assets, modelling savings, and building the case for investment.
A strategic opportunity
The energy transition is not just a technical challenge, it’s a strategic opportunity for organisations to rethink how its estates are managed. For FM providers, this means evolving from service delivery to energy leadership, combining compliance, technology, and operational insights into an integrated proposition.
Consider this: the UK public sector spends over £26 billion annually on digital technology and employs nearly 100,000 digital and data professionals, yet 47% of central government services still lack a digital pathway. These figures show that transformation is possible, and FM can be the catalyst for similar progress in energy management.
At OCS, we’re focused on making decarbonisation achievable, affordable, and operationally sound. This means aligning strategy, funding, and delivery into a seamless process. The message for FM leaders is clear, don’t wait for someone else to lead. The tools, the remit, and the influence are already in your hands. Every building optimised, every system upgraded, every behaviour changed brings us closer to a sustainable future.
This article appeared in the Nov/Dec 2025 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.