As the commercial property sector faces mounting pressure to cut costs and deliver measurable ESG outcomes, a project at Exchange Quay in Manchester is demonstrating how both can be achieved – quickly and without capital expenditure.
The office campus has deployed CSR Sustain’s AI-powered PEAK platform, which uses advanced building analytics to continuously monitor and optimise heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) performance. By analysing live data from the existing building management system, the platform identifies inefficiencies and translates them into actionable improvements.
The results are already significant. In Q1 2026, electricity consumption across the estate fell by 10.8% year-on-year, delivering a cost saving of approximately £30,000 in just three months. If maintained, this equates to an annual saving of around £120,000 – achieved purely through operational optimisation.
This is a key point. Unlike traditional energy reduction strategies, which often rely on capital-intensive upgrades, the PEAK platform focuses on eliminating inefficiencies already present within building systems. These include issues such as plant running unnecessarily, control errors and systems operating out of hours – problems that are widespread, but often invisible.
The scale of opportunity is substantial. More than 4,500 operational issues have already been identified at Exchange Quay, creating an ongoing pipeline of improvements and cost savings as actions are implemented.
The financial case is reinforced by speed of return. Because the platform targets operational gains rather than physical upgrades, return on investment is typically achieved within four to six months, with savings beginning almost immediately after deployment.
Alongside cost reduction, the platform is delivering measurable ESG benefits. In the first quarter alone, the estate reduced carbon emissions by around 30 tonnes of CO₂ year-on-year, with annual savings projected at approximately 120 tonnes. Crucially, these figures are based on real in-use performance, aligning with the industry’s growing focus on operational metrics such as NABERS.
There are also implications for asset value. Buildings that can demonstrate lower energy consumption, reduced carbon emissions and improved occupier comfort are becoming increasingly attractive to both investors and tenants. At Exchange Quay, early feedback highlights not only improved environmental performance, but also direct financial benefits for occupiers, including five-figure energy savings within individual buildings.
From a portfolio perspective, scalability is a major advantage. The PEAK platform integrates with existing systems and can standardise fragmented or unstructured data, making it suitable for both modern assets and older buildings where inefficiencies are often greatest.
It also introduces greater transparency and governance. Performance can be tracked, benchmarked, and audited in real time, providing asset managers with clear evidence of how buildings are operating and where improvements are being made.
As the sector shifts towards performance-based regulation and increasing scrutiny around ESG delivery, this ability to evidence outcomes is becoming critical.
Collaboration has been fundamental to the success of the rollout. Till AM, as the asset manager, has played a key role in enabling deployment across their portfolio, supporting a performance driven approach to building operations. Their commitment to improving in-use performance has been critical in unlocking the value of the platform.
Equally, CBRE as managing agent for Exchange Quay, has been instrumental in facilitating the delivery on site; from co-ordinating access and supporting integration with the existing infrastructure to working closely with site teams and contractors to ensure actions are implemented effectively.
Crucially, the success of the project comes from the alignment between ownership, management and operational delivery. The platform identifies the opportunities, but it is the collaboration between all parties that ensures those insights are transformed into real, measurable improvements.
Exchange Quay provides a clear example of how AI is moving beyond innovation into practical application. By combining rapid ROI, measurable cost savings and proven carbon reduction, CSR Sustain’s PEAK platform highlights a growing opportunity for landlords and asset managers to unlock value from existing assets – without the need for major capital spend.
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