Discover what worked in 2025 and where to focus in 2026.

Published: December 17, 2025.

Discover what worked in 2025 and where to focus in 2026.

At publication, the key low-cost wins in 2025 were load shifting through data visibility, compressed air leak detection, tuning boiler and steam systems, HVAC and refrigeration setpoint optimisation, and behavioural and scheduling improvements. These interventions required minimal capital yet produced measurable energy and cost reductions. Our approach emphasised using available data to identify opportunities before committing to equipment investment, allowing clients to prioritise high-return actions. The pattern suggests that operational oversight - rather than technology gaps - was often the limiting factor in achieving savings.

In a year where energy costs and operational efficiency remained top of mind, 2025 reminded us that big savings don't always need big budgets. At Northmore Gordon, many of the most effective energy efficiency gains came not from new capex - but from smarter use of existing systems and sharper operational control.

Here are some low-cost wins that delivered real impact:

  • Load shifting through data visibility
  • Compressed air leak detection
  • Tuning boiler and steam systems
  • HVAC and refrigeration setpoint optimisation
  • Behavioural and scheduling improvements

Case Study: Bulla Dairy Food's boost efficiency and reduces waste.
Northmore Gordon helped Bulla Dairy Foods implement a comprehensive metering and monitoring system, installing and integrating 62 meters and a central data platform to improve visibility of energy and water use. The project enhanced data access, supported operational insights and future savings, and underpins better management of energy and water performance.

Bulla Dairy Case Study

2026 Insight:
If you haven't recently reviewed how your existing systems are run - from start-up routines to sequencing logic - this is the place to start. Most "quick wins" are operational, not capital.

Common Blind Spots - Where Are Savings Still Missed?

Despite years of energy audits and capital upgrades, many businesses still miss out on easy performance gains. In 2025, we saw the same recurring issues in sites across Australia, not due to poor intent, but blind spots in how efficiency is maintained, measured or prioritised.

Here's where savings were still left on the table:

  • Equipment sequencing left unoptimised
  • Performance assumptions made without measurement
  • Control overrides left unchecked
  • Compressed air used inefficiently
  • Behaviour-led inefficiencies unnoticed

Case Study: Nomad Coffee - Savings Hidden in Plain Sight
Nomad Coffee's Richmond roastery and café had already invested in modern roasting systems and efficient lighting. But when Northmore Gordon audited their site, we uncovered a 37% energy savings potential, mostly from better controls, setpoint management, and HVAC improvements. Despite appearances, significant energy waste was going undetected.

Nomad Coffee Case Study

2026 Takeaway:
The most persistent blind spot? Assuming that "efficient" systems are still performing at their best. Controls drift, settings change, and old habits return. A fresh look, with data, is often all it takes to unlock value.

What's Changing in 2026 - Shifts That Matter

2026 won't bring major legislative upheaval, but there are quiet shifts in energy markets, grid operations, and technology that smart organisations will want to track. These changes won't make headlines, but they will impact project timing, payback, and feasibility.

Here's what's worth watching:

  • Tighter grid capacity for new electrification loads
  • Increased volatility in VEEC and LGC prices
  • Higher expectations for internal data alignment (across ESG, NGERS, ASRS)
  • More modular, smart electrification systems
  • Faster turnaround expected for VEU project registration

Case Study: MainStream Aquaculture - Aligning Tech, Grid & Certificate Strategy
MainStream Aquaculture partnered with Northmore Gordon to assess electrification options for process heat. By modelling their load profile, grid interaction, and VEEC eligibility, we helped them unlock both emissions reductions and new revenue streams. It's a perfect example of what's changing: grid-aware, financially viable electrification with certificates factored in from day one.

MainStream Aquaculture Case Study

2026 Insight:
The smartest projects in 2026 will be designed for grid readiness, certificate optimisation and fast-tracked compliance. Think ahead or risk being left behind in the queue.

Strategy Priorities for 2026 - Where to Focus

With energy markets moving and budgets under pressure, clients often ask: What should we actually prioritise in 2026? Our advice is clear, focus on three areas that consistently delivered strong ROI and strategic advantage in 2025.

1. Electrification Feasibility - Not Just Can We, But Should We?

High-efficiency electric alternatives (heat pumps, boilers) can now compete with gas, especially when grid capacity, site integration, and certificate revenue are factored in.

2. Environmental Certificate Strategy - Beyond Rebate Thinking

Clients that treated VEECs or LGCs as afterthoughts often missed 15-30% of potential value. Those that structured projects for optimal timing and stacking captured much more.

3. Operational Visibility - Make Data Actionable

Sub-metering and digital energy management helped pinpoint drift in systems assumed to be efficient. It wasn't just about tracking, it was about using data to act quickly.

Case Study: Fuchs Lubricants: Cutting Energy Costs and Emissions Through Electrification
Northmore Gordon helped FUCHS Lubricants assess electrification at its Sunshine, Victoria blending facility using a Victorian Government grant. The study found an air‐sourced heat pump was the best option, projecting ~$124,800 annual savings, a 1.65‐year payback, 25 % less gas use and 123 t CO2 avoided.

FUCHS Lubricants Case Study

2026 Mindset:
Electrify what makes sense. Optimise for certificates from day one. Monitor what you already own. That's how you extract more value, faster.

Tools, Data & Approaches - Getting More from What You Have

In 2026, the fastest path to energy savings may not be new plant or expensive upgrades. Many organisations already own systems capable of more, but are underutilising them due to lack of visibility, underdeveloped controls, or outdated assumptions.

These approaches delivered real impact in 2025:

  • Using digital twins or virtual modelling to test scenarios before implementation
  • Applying sub-metering to uncover asset-level inefficiencies
  • Building certificate tracking into maintenance planning
  • Recommissioning systems to recover "lost" efficiency
  • Refining control logic and load sequencing to minimise waste

Case Study: MainStream Aquaculture - Using Feasibility & Data to Drive Payback
Northmore Gordon worked with MainStream Aquaculture to explore electrification for thermal systems. By using detailed feasibility modelling and integrating environmental certificates (VEECs), we identified a solution that reduced energy costs, captured revenue, and optimised plant control, all without wholesale equipment replacement.

MainStream Aquaculture Case Study

2026 Message:
Before you buy new, optimise what you've got. Control systems, metering, and planning tools are underused assets. Used well, they can unlock the next 10-20% in savings, with less risk, faster.

What Surprised Us in 2025 - Insights That Challenged Assumptions

Even after years of audits and reporting, 2025 proved that some of the most valuable energy lessons are still the ones that surprise clients. Assumptions about "what's possible" or "already optimised" were regularly turned on their head.

Here's what stood out:

  • Sites with past upgrades often had major savings still hiding
  • Electrification didn't always mean 100% gas removal, hybrid systems worked
  • Control drift and overrides were more common than expected
  • Certificate opportunities were routinely missed or undervalued
  • Behaviour and scheduling still had significant impact, with no capex required

Case Study: Nomad Coffee - Reassessing What's "Already Efficient"
At Nomad Coffee's Richmond facility, our audit uncovered a 37% energy savings opportunity - despite the client believing they had already addressed the major issues. HVAC, compressed air, and control inefficiencies were silently costing energy and money. It was a clear reminder: even efficient-looking sites can underperform.

Nomad Coffee Case Study

Lesson for 2026:
Don't assume you've already found all the value. Even good systems drift. Even efficient sites degrade. Revisiting assumptions with fresh data and real expertise is often where the smartest savings are hiding.

Scheme and certificate context

Before using a certificate or grant figure, confirm the current scheme method, eligible activity, effective date, evidence requirements, price date and registration or application process.

What low-cost energy efficiency wins delivered real impact for Northmore Gordon clients in 2025?

According to the article, the key low-cost wins in 2025 were load shifting through data visibility, compressed air leak detection, tuning boiler and steam systems, HVAC and refrigeration setpoint optimisation, and behavioural and scheduling improvements. These interventions required minimal capital yet produced measurable energy and cost reductions. Our approach emphasised using available data to identify opportunities before committing to equipment investment, allowing clients to prioritise high-return actions. The pattern suggests that operational oversight—rather than technology gaps—was often the limiting factor in achieving savings.

What did Northmore Gordon do for Bulla Dairy Foods?

We helped Bulla Dairy Foods implement a comprehensive metering and monitoring system, installing and integrating 62 meters and a central data platform to improve visibility of energy and water use, supporting operational insights and better management of energy and water performance. This infrastructure provided the evidence foundation needed to identify opportunities, track savings from implemented changes, and support ongoing operational management. The project demonstrated how systematic measurement underpins both identification and verification of energy improvements across a food-processing facility.

What energy savings potential did Northmore Gordon uncover at Nomad Coffee's Richmond roastery?

Despite Nomad Coffee having already invested in modern roasting systems and efficient lighting, our audit uncovered a 37% energy savings potential, mostly from better controls, setpoint management, and HVAC improvements. This finding illustrates that equipment modernity does not guarantee optimised operation, and that control-layer improvements and system tuning often deliver substantial results independently of capital investment. The case demonstrates why energy assessments remain valuable even at facilities perceived as already efficient, and why operational optimisation should be explored before replacement decisions.

What common blind spots did Northmore Gordon find causing missed energy savings across Australian sites in 2025?

The recurring blind spots identified were unoptimised equipment sequencing, performance assumptions made without measurement, unchecked control overrides, inefficient use of compressed air, and unnoticed behaviour-led inefficiencies. These issues persisted across sites despite prior investments or good intentions, suggesting that ongoing monitoring and periodic review are necessary to maintain performance. Our observation highlights why energy management requires sustained attention: operational drift, staffing changes, and control-system modifications can silently erode savings. Addressing these blind spots typically requires no capital but does require structured visibility and accountable responsibility.

What market and grid shifts should businesses watch for in 2026, according to Northmore Gordon?

The article highlights tighter grid capacity for new electrification loads, increased volatility in VEEC and LGC prices, higher expectations for internal data alignment across ESG, NGERS and ASRS reporting, more modular smart electrification systems, and faster turnaround expected for VEU project registration. These shifts affect project feasibility, funding value and timing. Tighter grid capacity means electrification projects need earlier assessment of connection constraints. Certificate price volatility requires structured timing strategies rather than passive assumptions. Reporting alignment demands integrated data systems. These changes favour organisations that assess projects holistically—combining technical, commercial and regulatory perspectives—rather than treating each element separately.

What results did the Fuchs Lubricants electrification study achieve?

We helped FUCHS Lubricants assess electrification at our Sunshine, Victoria blending facility using a Victorian Government grant. The study found an air-sourced heat pump was the best option, projecting approximately $124,800 in annual savings, a 1.65-year payback, 25% less gas use, and 123 tonnes of CO2 avoided. This case demonstrates how feasibility assessment—combining technical modelling, electrical constraint review, and certificate analysis—can validate electrification economics before capital commitment. The results show that hybrid electric solutions can deliver substantial cost and emissions benefits even when full gas replacement isn't required, and that structured assessment unlocks both operating and environmental value.

How much value can be missed if VEECs or LGCs are treated as an afterthought, according to Northmore Gordon?

The article states that clients who treated VEECs or LGCs as afterthoughts often missed 15–30% of potential value, whereas those who structured projects for optimal timing and stacking captured much more. This gap highlights that certificate strategy is not simply a rebate calculation applied after equipment selection. Project timing, boundary definition, measurement approach, and interaction with other schemes all affect eligible quantity and market value. Our experience suggests that certificate considerations should be part of project design, not post-installation administration. Early assessment of scheme eligibility, method requirements and timing preserves evidence and commercial optionality.

What insight did Northmore Gordon highlight as surprising in 2025 regarding already-upgraded sites?

We found that sites with past upgrades often still had major savings hiding, that electrification didn't always require 100% gas removal (hybrid systems worked), control drift and overrides were more common than expected, certificate opportunities were routinely missed or undervalued, and behaviour and scheduling still had significant impact with no capex required. This pattern suggests that energy management is not a one-time activity but an ongoing process. Equipment investment creates a foundation, but operational performance depends on sustained attention to controls, measurement, and staff engagement. The prevalence of savings at already-upgraded sites indicates substantial untapped potential across Australian facilities through better visibility, management discipline, and strategic use of available tools.

What strategic priorities does Northmore Gordon recommend businesses focus on in 2026?

We recommend three priorities: (1) Electrification Feasibility—assessing whether high-efficiency electric alternatives like heat pumps are viable given grid capacity and certificate revenue potential; (2) Environmental Certificate Strategy—structuring projects for optimal VEEC and LGC timing and stacking rather than treating certificates as an afterthought; and (3) Operational Visibility—using sub-metering and digital energy management to make data actionable for continuous improvement. These priorities reflect market changes, cost-control pressures and reporting requirements. Together they position organisations to identify opportunities earlier, capture more value from investments, and sustain performance through structured management rather than one-off projects.

Why does Northmore Gordon emphasise data visibility and measurement as a starting point rather than equipment replacement?

Our 2025 experience demonstrates that operational blindness—not technology limitations—is often the binding constraint on energy performance. Low-cost interventions like load shifting, leak detection, control tuning and behavioural change delivered measurable results across diverse sites, many of which had already invested in modern equipment. This pattern suggests that comprehensive metering and energy management create a foundation from which technical and commercial decisions can be made with confidence. Measurement infrastructure enables identification of the highest-return opportunities first, verification of results after implementation, and detection of performance drift. The approach is economically efficient because it prioritises low-capex wins, reduces risk in larger investments and supports both operational management and regulatory reporting.

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