How do mechanical and electrical services make a building genuinely sustainable?
Reduce demand first, then electrify heat, optimise controls and metering, keep plant performing to design intent, and measure results so savings are proven, not assumed.
Why M&E carries most of the load
On most sites, HVAC, lighting, motors, and process loads account for the bulk of operational energy use. Focus here, and you see the fastest, most measurable gains, especially in energy-intensive factories. In practice, getting the M&E backbone right lifts every other sustainability initiative.
Reduce demand before you go green.
Fix the fabric first to shrink heating and cooling loads. Then tackle high-efficiency plant: variable-speed drives for fans and pumps, efficient fans, and higher-COP chillers or heat pumps. Upgrade lighting to LED with presence and daylight control, and zone areas for shifts and low occupancy.
Electrify heat and recover what you can
Plan a staged move away from gas. Use heat pumps for base load and capture waste heat from compressors and lines. Add solar-sized to daytime demand and consider storage for peaks and resilience. Keep power quality in shape with harmonic correction and power factor improvement to protect sensitive kit and reduce kVA charges.
More intelligent control means lower carbon
Standardise setpoints and use demand-led strategies through BMS or SCADA. Sub-meter electricity, gas, water and compressed air at boards and major loads. Track energy KPIs alongside production so savings are real, not theoretical.
Compliance that pays back
Stay on top of UK requirements with our mechanical and electrical services, including Part L, ESOS, SECR, TM44 air-conditioning inspections, and F-Gas management. Keep assets efficient and legal with planned maintenance, statutory inspections and a live spares plan. Preserve O&M records, commissioning data and controls narratives so audits and optimisation are simpler.
Practical sustainability checklist
- Fabric improvements agreed and sequenced with production
- Electrification roadmap for heat pumps and heat recovery
- Sub-metering plan at boards and major loads, dashboards live
- LED with controls and variable speed drives scheduled
- Preventive maintenance aligned to efficiency, including filters, belts and calibration
- Compliance calendar covering ESOS or SECR, TM44 and F-Gas
- Measurement and verification plan with target KPIs
FAQs
- What delivers the quickest carbon and cost savings?
LED with controls, variable speed drives on fans and pumps, and BMS optimisation. These bring short paybacks with minimal disruption. - Is electrifying heat realistic for factories?
Yes, usually in stages. Reduce demand first, add heat recovery, then deploy heat pumps for base load while retaining backup for peaks. - How do we prove savings to stakeholders?
Sub-meter major loads and apply a simple measurement and verification plan. Compare normalised pre- and post-project data to show verified reductions. - Will new controls disrupt production?
Not with a staged plan. Configure in parallel, test at low risk, then switch over in planned windows with a rollback ready. - How often should we recommission M&E systems?
At least annually for critical plant, and after any significant process change. Drifted setpoints and sensor errors quietly erode savings over time.
Call to action
Ready to cut energy, carbon and downtime together? Talk to FESS Group via our contact page: https://fessgroup.co.uk/contact-us/
