ZerithDiscuss your estate ↗
Building Performance & Net Zero

Find where energy is being wasted, understand why building systems underperform, and focus investment on practical improvements that can be measured.

Discuss your building Explore the approach

Engineering-led advice for buildings, estates and energy-intensive operations.

Building performance
Find the cause.
Prioritise what matters.
Controls & schedulesReview
Heating & coolingInvestigate
Out-of-hours useCompare
Operational evidence + engineering judgement → prioritised action
5–10%Typical operational energy-saving potential*
12–24 monthsTypical audit-measure payback*
£10m+Energy savings identified by Zerith
50+ yearsCollective consultancy experience
Where performance is lost

Buildings rarely perform exactly as intended.

Operating patterns change. Controls drift. Equipment ages. Spaces are repurposed. Explore the signals that can point to avoidable energy waste.

Control driftSchedules and setpoints no longer reflect real occupancy.
Review operating schedules, setpoints, overrides, sensor readings and control sequences against how the building is actually used.
Out-of-hours usePlant continues when buildings or processes are inactive.
Compare energy demand with operating hours to locate baseloads, overnight operation and equipment that may be running unnecessarily.
Conflicting systemsHeating, cooling and ventilation work against each other.
Investigate how HVAC plant, controls and zones interact, including simultaneous heating and cooling or poor sequencing.
Degraded plant & changing demandFaults, calibration and new operating needs erode performance.
Check equipment condition, sensor calibration and whether current control strategies still suit changed occupancy, production or space use.
Interactive diagnostic map

Choose a system to explore

Select a node
Controls & schedules

Review schedules, setpoints, sensors and overrides against actual occupancy and operating needs.

Operating strategyTrend dataSite context
Illustrative map — no site-specific performance data is shown.
A focused engineering process

Focus on the systems that materially affect cost.

Move from a broad view of operational complexity to focused, investable action. Select a step to see what happens next.

STEP 01 / 06

Understand the priorities

Discuss the estate, operating context, constraints and cost concerns before defining the work.

From complexityTo focused action
Connected specialist services

Focused services. Connected when required.

Choose a service to see where it can help. Begin with the issue that matters most, then connect related work where the project calls for it.

01 / AUDITEnergy audits, treasure hunts & Kaizen

Focused assessments identify practical, quantifiable savings across buildings, systems and processes. Treasure hunts and Kaizen workshops can involve operational teams.

02 / PROCESSIndustrial process & utilities

Review compressed air, steam, motors, drives, process heat, cooling and production-related energy demand.

03 / CONTROLSBeMS & controls optimisation

Review schedules, setpoints, sensors, overrides and control strategies to restore effective operation.

04 / FABRICLighting, power & building fabric

Identify targeted improvements across lighting, controls, electrical distribution, insulation, glazing and air leakage.

05 / HVACHVAC & building-services performance

Assess heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water and associated mechanical and electrical systems.

06 / DELIVERYImplementation & verification

Support design, procurement, commissioning and measurement so recommendations can become demonstrable savings.

How Zerith works with your team

Specialist-led where judgement matters. Collaborative where your knowledge adds value.

The right delivery model depends on the work, your internal capability and the technical complexity of the measure.

Specialist-led engineering reviews

Zerith specialists assess how plant, controls and operating strategies interact, identify root causes and develop technically appropriate corrective actions.

  • HVAC and building-services performance
  • BeMS and controls optimisation
  • Central energy centres and mechanical plant
  • Heating and cooling systems

Collaborative energy and process audits

Audits can be delivered by Zerith or alongside internal engineering, facilities and operations teams—combining specialist analysis with the knowledge of people who operate the site every day.

  • Energy and process audits
  • Energy treasure hunts
  • Kaizen workshops
  • Operational energy reviews

Implementation support

Stay involved beyond assessment, helping translate recommendations into effective operational and engineering changes.

  • Control-strategy changes and specifications
  • Contractor coordination and supervision
  • Commissioning and measurement
  • Post-implementation review

Technical and commercial prioritisation

Each opportunity is considered in the context of real operating conditions and the decision factors that matter to the client.

  • Energy and cost saving
  • Carbon reduction and implementation cost
  • Payback and operational risk
  • Practical deliverability
Published project examples

Engineering evidence, translated into measurable outcomes.

Examples published by Zerith illustrate how focused investigation and implementation support can create commercial value.

~£30,000Annual saving · commercial audit & BeMS changes

Example result reported with an approximate nine-month payback for audit and implementation.

~£300,000Identified savings · university buildings & energy centre

Published project example with an average 2.3-year payback.

>£500,000Potential savings · three-site healthcare estate

Potential savings identified, with an average payback reported at three years.

Project examples are specific to their own scope and operating conditions. They are not a guarantee of results for another building or estate.

Evidence into action · select a step
Energy and load profiles

Build a picture of when energy is used and how demand changes across the building or estate.

ZECO supports the process

Better data. Real engineering judgement.

Where appropriate, Zerith uses ZECO to support profiling, baseline development, anomaly detection, savings calculations and opportunity prioritisation.

  • Energy and load profiling
  • Out-of-hours analysis
  • Trend and anomaly detection
  • Energy, cost and carbon modelling
  • Opportunity comparison
  • Portfolio site comparison

ZECO supports the evidence. Zerith’s specialists develop and review the diagnosis, recommendations and technical reports.

Building performance to Net Zero

Improve what exists.Plan what comes next.

Optimising existing buildings can establish a stronger evidence base before major Net Zero investment. Audit findings help clarify current consumption, operational efficiency and future capital measures.

Group opportunities into short-, medium- and long-term actions, grounded in real buildings, systems, costs and operating constraints.

Explore Net Zero strategy

A practical route from evidence to a Net Zero pathway

Understand

Establish energy use and operating context.

Common questions

What to expect from a building-performance review.

What does a commercial energy audit include?
It examines how energy is used across a building, site or selected system and identifies practical opportunities to reduce consumption and operating costs. Depending on scope, it may consider utility and metering data, operating hours, occupancy, building fabric, HVAC, lighting, hot water, controls and BeMS.
How much can a building-performance review save?
The saving depends on the building, its condition, operating patterns and the systems included. Zerith’s current page describes 5–10% as typical operational energy-saving potential across suitable buildings and environments; actual results may be higher or lower. Opportunities are quantified individually before implementation decisions are made.
Which systems can Zerith assess?
Depending on the agreed scope, assessments may cover heating and cooling plant, ventilation, boilers, heat pumps, chillers, hot water, pumps, fans, motors, compressed air, lighting, electrical distribution and process equipment. BeMS strategies, metering and building fabric can also be reviewed where they materially affect performance.
Can Zerith help implement recommendations?
Yes. Depending on the opportunity, support may include control strategies, technical specifications, contractor review, procurement, implementation coordination, commissioning and post-implementation review. The level of involvement is agreed around your internal capability and the technical complexity of the measure.
How are energy and cost savings verified?
Performance after implementation is compared with an appropriate baseline established before the change. Depending on the measure and available data, this may use utility data, submetering, BeMS trends, operating hours, equipment performance and site observations, with relevant adjustments for factors such as weather, occupancy or production.
Can an energy audit support ESOS or a Net Zero plan?
A suitably scoped audit can support compliance and longer-term investment planning. For ESOS, its role depends on applicable scheme requirements and Lead Assessor review. For Net Zero planning, it can provide an evidence base for understanding consumption, improving operational efficiency and identifying future capital measures.
Start with the building

Where is your building wasting energy?

Begin with a focused discussion about your systems, operating context and largest energy consumers.

Book a consultation