Prefect Controls is proud to announce that Prefect Irus, its cutting-edge central control and energy management system, has won two of the most prestigious categories at the Energy Saving Awards:
- Energy Management System of the Year
- Smart Buildings Product of the Year
“The control of individual rooms rather than the whole building makes this product very impressive as an energy saving device. The control has many features and is therefore very adaptable and applicable. This is an intelligent Energy Management System that is operating in more that 180 sites in the UK. It’s a tried and tested product which has some great testimonials.”
Judges comments.
Run by Datateam Business Media in partnership with Energy in Buildings & Industry magazine, the Energy Saving Awards celebrate the technologies, products, and solutions that are pushing the boundaries of innovation, efficiency, and sustainability across the built environment.
Each year, the judging panel evaluates entries against strict criteria designed to highlight products that deliver genuine, measurable impact.
Smart Buildings Product of the Year. With a booming smart building market the winner of this award has to show that their product not only saves energy but also brings wider benefits to building occupants.
Energy Management System of the Year is awarded to the company that can demonstrate how it can play a crucial role in helping to reduce a site’s energy consumption and provide users with all the data they need to minimise waste.
Irus was able to prove reductions in consumption and carbon emissions, while providing new approaches to long-standing problems and meaningful advancement over existing solutions. ControlSensor brings further integrated, automated, and intelligent control that enhances building performance with simplicity, clarity, and reliability for operators and occupants alike. The real-world results harvested from the bespoke portal demonstrate success in more than 180 installations, backed by irrefutable data analysis.
Tom McAndrew, Senior Project Manager at Prefect Controls was delighted:
“Irus is the result of listening carefully to our customers’ needs. Winning Smart Buildings Product of the Year reflects our commitment to intuitive, powerful design that simplifies energy management at scale.”
The judges look beyond promises and marketing, they seek practical, scalable, results-driven solutions that contribute meaningfully to the UK’s energy-efficiency goals.
Irus stood out in both award categories thanks to its comprehensive and highly adaptable approach to energy management across student accommodation, hotels, and other multi-occupancy environments.
Key strengths highlighted by the judges include central monitoring and control of heating, hot water, leak detection, utility metering, water wastage and kitchen hob safety, enabling building operators to reduce consumption without compromising comfort.
With advanced scheduling, occupancy-based control, multi-device integration and real-time data analytics, Irus provides a powerful, unified platform that works seamlessly across building systems.
The all-new ControlSensor brings new features to the Irus ecosystem including microwave occupancy sensing and Direct-to-Room communication. This enables operators to keep their residents informed of useful information such as, up-coming scheduled maintenance work, fire alarm testing, deliveries for specific rooms as well as ‘Nudging’ occupants to encourage greater awareness of energy use and behaviours that could help environmental conditions with subtle suggestions such as, reducing shower lengths, improving ventilation, highlighting their heat consumption etc.
Adrian Barber, Marketing Manager at Prefect Controls commented:
“Winning two major categories at the Energy Saving Awards cements Prefect Controls’ position as a leader in intelligent energy management technology. It validates years of investment in research, development, and customer-driven innovation.”
He continues, “The only way to save energy is to cut unnecessary use. Irus achieves this by automatically, physically switching heat sources on and off, unlike many monitoring systems.”
Multi-occupancy sites regularly report significant energy savings, helping clients achieve greater operational efficiency, cost savings and sustainability targets. In some cases, a phenomenal 50% reduction in heating load.
Designed to support estates of any size, Irus adapts to new build, retrofit, and refurbishment projects with minimal disruption and maximum reliability. Together, these capabilities made Irus a standout example of how modern building control should work: smart, efficient, and effortless – providing control, visibility and intelligence.
Will Mills, Prefect Controls Managing Director, commented:
“These awards are fantastic recognition of the work our team has put into developing Irus+ControlSensor into the most advanced building energy management system of its kind. The judging criteria focus on real performance, so winning is proof that Irus is making a genuine difference for our customers and for the environment.”
He continues, “Winning both categories is a milestone for our team. Irus was designed to solve real, everyday energy challenges faced by building operators, and these awards confirm that we’re delivering on that promise. It’s recognition not just of the technology, but of its impact.”
The awards also underline Prefect Controls’ commitment to supporting the UK’s net-zero ambitions. With energy costs and sustainability pressures rising, organisations need reliable, intelligent tools to manage their buildings more effectively. Irus is now recognised as one of the very best solutions delivering on that need.
About Prefect Controls
Prefect Controls is a specialist in intelligent energy management and control technologies for multi-occupancy buildings. With decades of experience and an unwavering focus on innovation, Prefect delivers solutions that reduce energy waste, lower carbon emissions, and improve operational efficiency through better building services performance.
From left to right: Ben Hanlin (Compere), Prefect Controls – Sam Osborne (Key Account Manager), Tom McAndrew (Senior Project Manager), Will Mills (Managing Director), Adrian Barber (Marketing Manager), Joel Windsor (Sales Coordinator), and Tim Sainty who presented the award.
