A digital twin has identified £64,000 of annual energy cost savings at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh.
The university commissioned global climate tech firm, IES, to develop a digital twin of the 21,954 sq m main academic building and 2,788 sq m sports facility, both part of the campus that opened in 2008.
When completed, the main academic building achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating, 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 last summer to implement IES Live, its 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 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 savings.
In the first year alone, the identified savings substantially exceed 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. The £64,000 saving is equivalent to approximately 11% of the site’s current energy spend.
Data-driven, evidence-led approach
Alongside this immediate optimisation work, IES has also explored longer-term decarbonisation pathways for the estate, which will be assessed in more detail as the programme progresses.
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, added: “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.”
