The CIBSE IBPSA-England Technical Symposium 2025 was a major success, drawing to a close in London on Monday, April 28, 2025. Over the course of two days, the symposium brought together leaders, researchers, and professionals from around the world to discuss the latest advancements in sustainable building design and performance.
This event was a collaboration between two prominent organizations in the industry: the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA)-England. It combined CIBSE’s annual Technical Symposium and IBPSA-England’s biennial Building Simulation and Optimisation event, with the theme of “Fit for 2050 – Achieving Net-Zero through Intelligent, Resilient, and Sustainable Design in the Built Environment.”
The symposium offered a valuable platform for showcasing research, innovation, and best practices in achieving a net-zero future for the built environment. It featured an extensive 2-day programme, including 34 sessions and nearly 100 expert speakers. Keynote addresses were delivered by CIBSE President Fiona Cousins and IBPSA-England Chair Neveen Hamza, setting the stage for dynamic discussions on the future of building performance and sustainability.
The symposium covered a wide range of topics aimed at transforming the industry and equipping it to meet the challenges of decarbonisation and climate resilience. Attendees were treated to technical reviews, case studies, poster presentations, and thought-provoking discussions.
Some of the key topics included net-zero carbon methodology and benchmarks for commercial buildings, decentralised ventilation for carbon reduction in UK offices, decarbonisation strategies for stadium buildings and homes, the role of passive design and smart technologies in achieving sustainability, building resilience against climate change through effective design strategies, and innovative approaches to district heating systems and energy-efficient retrofits.
Fiona Cousins, CIBSE President, expressed her satisfaction with the event, stating, “The CIBSE IBPSA-England Technical Symposium 2025 has been an essential forum for exchanging ideas and fostering partnerships, helping to equip our sector with the tools needed to model and measure building performance for the future.” She added, “This partnership encompasses well-established and urgent work in support of decarbonisation, as well as emerging research and innovations focused on occupant health and well-being – an area evolving rapidly due to advances in sensor technology and AI-driven analytical methods.”
IBPSA-England Chair Neveen Hamza also shared her thoughts on the collaboration, saying, “The collaboration between IBPSA-England and CIBSE to organise and host this conference reflects the challenges and opportunities we face, as both an academic and professional community, in our efforts to be fit for achieving net-zero in a built environment where more than 80% of the building stock that will exist in 2050 is already in place.” She continued, “This conference showcases the latest cutting-edge research and technologies to help realise our ambitions for a more sustainable and climate-resilient built environment.”
In addition to advancing the conversation around sustainable building design, the symposium also paved the way for ongoing collaboration within the sector. As the industry continues to tackle the challenges of decarbonisation and resilience, the momentum from this event will undoubtedly influence the future of building performance for years to come.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.