The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) has published a new Policy Pulse report warning that commercial and public buildings in the UK are being left behind in the net zero transition. While more than 40 billion pounds in funding and policy support has been directed toward building decarbonisation, most of it targets domestic retrofit. Non-domestic buildings, which account for a substantial share of UK energy use and emissions, lack a dedicated framework like the Warm Homes Plan. The report highlights new regulations in Wales, the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, and the forthcoming Future Buildings Standard as positive steps. These policies push for better building performance, electrification, and data-driven decision making, which creates opportunities for intelligent building controls. However, BCIA president Jen Vickers stresses that without clear policy for non-domestic buildings, the UK risks missing its overall decarbonisation targets. The association wants commercial and public buildings fully integrated into future strategies and funding mechanisms.
