2 min read

RO Real Estate: Smart energy control at Silbury House, Milton Keynes

Picture of measurable.energy measurable.energy May 13, 2025 8:45:00 AM

Case studies

RO Real Estate: Smart energy control at Silbury House, Milton Keynes

Pioneering Energy Efficiency in Office Refurbishment

As commercial buildings account for a significant portion of carbon emissions, interventions that reduce operational energy use are vital in addressing climate action goals, meeting regulatory requirements, and delivering value to both landlords and occupiers.

At Silbury House in Milton Keynes, RO Real Estate, part of the RO Group, has embraced this challenge head-on. Through a comprehensive refurbishment strategy focused on decarbonisation and data-driven design and construction, Silbury House has been transformed into one of the city’s most sustainable office buildings.

A specific area that supports this achievement is the decision to deploy measurable.energy smart socket technology, which targets plug power energy waste - an overlooked source of inefficiency in office spaces.

Silbury House_Communal Lounge (5)

Technology in action: measurable.energy

As part of the refurbishment, RO Real Estate installed 100 AI-powered sockets, a mixture of dual-gang sockets, fused spurs, and extensions leads throughout the ground floor office suites

The smart sockets use machine learning to detect energy use from plugged-in equipment such as monitors, TVs, fridges, and chargers. By automatically switching off appliances when not in use - and aligning usage with renewable energy availability - they reduce unnecessary consumption without compromising workplace functionality.

Results since deployment at Silbury House

reduction in energy use

These reductions in both energy use and carbon emissions demonstrate how critical the role of plug power control is in improving operational efficiency and supporting corporate carbon reduction targets.

Sustainability credentials & broader vision

The measurable.energy deployment supports broader and targeted sustainability credentials at Silbury House, which include :

EPC A rating – Top 2% of non-domestic buildings in England and Wales
Targeting BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ – Achieved by just 2% of UK buildings
5 star NABERS UK Design for Performance target
Highest 3 - star Fitwell rating focusing on occupant health and wellbeing
Reset Air accreditation- focusing on measuring and improving indoor air quality for occupants
WELL Performance Rating in progress – focusing on indoor air quality performance, occupier wellbeing and productivity

Ana Bajri, Head of Sustainability, RO Group said:

"At Silbury House, we’re demonstrated how smart, targeted interventions can make a measurable impact. By integrating measurable.energy smart socket technology into our refurbishment strategy, we reduced plug power energy use and cut associated carbon emissions. This often-overlooked area of energy waste is now a key part of our sustainability toolkit. The real-time data and automation these sockets provide have positively impacted our carbon reduction strategy and will support us progress towards net zero. It's a clear example of how innovation contributes to operational excellence and transparent, evidence-based reporting."

Smart building energy upgrades

The success of Silbury House shows how strategic energy efficiency upgrades, paired with smart, measurable technologies, can deliver meaningful results and drive positive impact—operationally, financially, and environmentally. As the industry moves toward net zero carbon, Silbury House stands as a model for sustainable refurbishment to meet evolving sustainability requirements and modern occupier expectations.

Find out how measurable.energy’s AI-driven technology can help your business accelerate its journey to net zero.