Colin Dean, MD of Socomec UK looks at what might happen in 2026.
Energy efficiency has sat high on the agenda for commercial buildings for years, yet many UK building operators still manage electricity through aggregated meters that reveal little about where power is actually being used or wasted. The demand shocks of 2025 – from winter cold snaps to summer heatwaves – exposed the limits of this approach, with offices, retail estates and multi-tenant buildings feeling the strain the most, as peak demand collided with rising electricity prices.
As we move further into 2026, building operators have a golden opportunity to unlock efficiencies from better energy management. Buildings that can measure, manage and prove their energy performance will stand in a stronger position to optimise costs, improve resilience and demonstrate sustainability credentials.
For smart buildings, this requires a focus on the quality of energy data that underpins both operational management and long-term planning.
Day-to-day decisions will depend on circuit-level insight
In 2026, the ability to respond quickly during peak demand will be a key capability for smart buildings. That responsiveness starts with precise monitoring of electricity consumption by circuit, zone and use. Granular visibility allows operators to identify which systems consume the most energy, detect anomalies and address inefficiencies before they potentially become expensive problems.
This level of insight is especially important in complex buildings with multiple activities or tenants. Accurate sub-metering enables fair and transparent billing at a time when energy costs remain volatile. For this to work, meters used for billing must comply with recognised standards such as the Measuring Instrument Directive (MID). MID-certified meters are designed to ensure trust in measurement results and fair trading. The highest-performing devices achieve accuracy levels of up to 0.5 percent across a broad operating range, even as conditions fluctuate.
Dependable, standards-compliant data gives building operators clarity in day-to-day decision-making and provides sub-tenants assurances in the numbers that underpin their own environmental and commercial KPIs.
Investment planning will rely on measured performance
Energy efficiency investments carry less risk when performance can be measured continuously. In 2026, operators will increasingly prioritise projects that start with a clear baseline and deliver measurable returns. Continuous monitoring enables this by linking upgrades directly to changes in consumption, power quality and operating costs.
Modular energy management systems support this approach. They enable monitoring and metering points to be added progressively, focusing first on the areas with the greatest impact. This reduces upfront risk and avoids the need for disruptive, large-scale overhauls. It also aligns with the reality of existing buildings, where retrofitting must be fast, safe and flexible.
Once performance is measured reliably, operators can optimise their energy management further, for example, by integrating battery energy storage to help shift consumption away from peak periods and avoid unnecessary charges. Since these decisions are grounded in verified consumption data, operators can expand systems incrementally while protecting capital and operating expenditure – paving a lower-risk path to efficiency gains.
Resilience will underpin sustainable buildings
Data that gives confidence in energy investments also proves sustainability claims – which now face closer scrutiny from regulators, investors and occupiers. Standards such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and methodologies aligned with ISO 50001 emphasise continuous measurement and improvement across the lifetime of an electrical installation. In 2026, credible sustainability strategies must rest on precise and consistent energy data.
This requirement extends beyond consumption alone. Buildings must guarantee the permanent availability of electrical power for critical loads, including emergency lighting, smoke extraction systems, signalling equipment and other life safety systems. Connected monitoring of critical power systems enables operators to carry out preventive maintenance and evidence that systems perform as intended – maintaining compliance with regulatory audits. This combination of resilience and informed energy management is what allows smart buildings to prove their ability to stay safe, efficient and sustainable.
Smart buildings get energy efficiency right in 2026
Smart buildings have long promised efficiency through connectivity and automation – now, their success rests on how well they manage energy.
In 2026, smart buildings must get even more intelligent with their energy data. Those that invest in accurate monitoring, compliant metering and flexible energy systems will be able to respond faster to demand pressures and plan investments with confidence. In a more connected and electrified environment, these capabilities will directly benefit operations and improve trust with occupiers and stakeholders alike.