Thursday May 7th 2026
Queen Margaret University
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
New analysis by global climate tech firm, IES, has identified annual energy cost savings of around £64,000 for Queen Margaret University of Edinburgh – equivalent to approximately 11% of the site’s current energy spend.
Commissioned by the University and delivered using IES’s proprietary live digital twin technology, the project’s insights will help the University target the most effective operational improvements in the coming years and inform its longer-term journey to net zero.
The project, which began in August last year, covers the University’s 236,310 sq ft main academic building and 30,009 sq ft sports facility, both part of the new campus opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 2008.
When completed, the main academic building achieved an Excellent BREEAM rating, which was the highest score recorded for a UK University at that time. However, as with many buildings, operational performance can drift over time as systems, controls and occupancy patterns evolve, creating a gap between original design intent and how the building performs in practice.
IES was appointed to implement IES Live, a cloud-based platform that monitors and analyses energy use, creating a live digital replica of the estate that reflects how the buildings actually perform in operation.
By implementing physics-based digital twin modelling via IES Live, IES synchronised high-fidelity simulations with live building management system (BMS) data to forensically assess real-world performance against design intent.
The analysis exposed significant metering gaps; while the University’s Air Handling Units (AHUs) were BMS-controlled, they lacked dedicated energy metering.
By bridging these data gaps, IES has provided visibility into previously hidden inefficiencies, establishing a roadmap for further Year 2 savings.
In the first year alone, identified savings substantially exceeded the initial investment in the IES Live platform. While the digital twin provides a platform for mid-to-long-term decarbonisation planning and plant replacement, this initial phase focused on low- and no-capex adjustments.
By optimising the control and sequencing of boilers, chillers, and AHUs, IES has identified immediate efficiencies in scheduling, setpoints, and ventilation, ensuring the technology effectively pays for itself.
Indicative opportunities identified include:
– Boiler efficiency improvements – boilers were operating at around 82% efficiency. Through revised control strategies and improved sequencing, efficiency could be increased to approximately 94%, equating to around £14,000 in annual savings.
– Free cooling optimisation – analysis showed that outside air conditions were suitable for free cooling approximately 97% of the year, yet this was being utilised only around 2% of the time. Increasing the use of outside air for cooling could deliver close to £30,000 in annual savings.
– Control and scheduling improvements – fine-tuning when systems run and how they operate, including lowering temperatures overnight, reducing fan speeds where possible, cutting excess runtime and stopping heating and cooling systems from working against each other.
These findings highlight how performance gaps can develop over time, even in relatively modern buildings, and how significant savings can be unlocked by analysing live operational data rather than relying solely on original design assumptions.
Alongside the immediate optimisation work, IES also explored longer-term decarbonisation pathways for the estate, which will be assessed in more detail as the programme progresses.
The work has been structured as an ongoing managed service rather than a one-off intervention, recognising that building performance can drift due to control changes, occupancy patterns and seasonal variation. IES will continue to monitor results as measures are implemented, with boiler optimisation expected to be prioritised, followed by further refinements to air handling systems.
Craig Blyth, senior operations consultant at IES, said:
“This project proves that meaningful savings do not always require major capital investment. By combining building physics modelling with live operational data, we’ve moved beyond assumptions to identify exactly how existing systems can be tuned to perform more efficiently.
“The £64,000 in potential savings identified in the initial high-level phase demonstrates how powerful a data-driven, evidence-led approach can be for near-term returns. This strategy reduces energy demand and lowers operating costs today, while providing a credible, scientific foundation for the university’s longer-term decarbonisation.”
John Walker, head of estates and engineering at Queen Margaret University, said:
“Sustainability is at the core of Queen Margaret University’s mission, and we are continually looking for ways to enhance our environmental performance—both through the operation of our campus and through our teaching and research. We are therefore pleased to work with IES to ensure we are taking every opportunity to identify and implement efficiencies that deliver meaningful, long-term benefits in how the University operates.
“Working collaboratively enables us to make the best possible use of our campus while continuing to strengthen our commitment to sustainability. These findings give us a strong evidence-based starting point. As improvements are implemented, we will validate performance in operation, allowing us to clearly see where we are performing well, where further progress is needed, and how best to prioritise our next steps.
“Ultimately, this work supports the development of a more resilient estate – one that is better prepared for the impacts of climate change and designed to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively for years to come.”
The project demonstrates how quick operational wins combined with structured decarbonisation planning can reduce energy demand now while supporting a more sustainable, future-ready estate for the decades ahead.
Learn more about the project and IES’s pioneering technology here.
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