BACS decree, GTB and artificial intelligence: when data is transforming the energy management of tertiary buildings

Since 2025, tertiary buildings in France must integrate systems capable of automatically controlling their energy consumption. This obligation arises from the BACS decree, which requires owners to equip their buildings with an automation and control system.

Behind this regulatory evolution lies a more profound transformation, that of the passage of a reactive energy management versus predictive management. Real estate managers can no longer simply monitor their consumption; they must now understand, anticipate and justify them. The solutions of GTB (Technical Building Management) And of GTC (Centralized Technical Management) are at the heart of this mutation. They continuously record and regulate the technical parameters of a building, such as temperature, ventilation, air conditioning or lighting. But their true potential is revealed when they are combined withartificial intelligence.

Thanks to AI, this data becomes usable, understandable and actionable, paving the way for measurable and sustainable energy performance.

1. Understanding the BACS decree

The BACS decree, for Building Automation & Control Systems, makes it mandatory to have an automation system in tertiary buildings equipped with heating, ventilation or air conditioning.

Its objective is twofold:

• Measure and record energy consumption,
• Detect and correct the drifts automatically.

This device aims to make buildings more sober, smarter and more transparent. In practice, it is a question of allowing a real-time control energy performance and technical equipment.

2. The central role of GTB and GTC

La GTB supervises all the technical equipment in a building, such as heating, air conditioning, ventilation, security or lighting. It collects data, centralizes them and automatically adjusts instructions according to real use, weather conditions or occupancy rate.

La GTC often intervenes at a more local level or on a specific perimeter, but is based on the same principles. These tools are essential to the energy transition. However, their effectiveness depends on the ability to exploit the data they generate, because without analysis, GTB remains a passive dashboard.

3. OPERAT and the tertiary decree, a common framework

In parallel with the BACS decree, the Tertiary decree imposes a trajectory for reducing energy consumption:

• — 40% by 2030,
• — 50% by 2040,
• — 60% by 2050.

Each company concerned must declare its consumption on the platform OPERAT, managed by ADEME. OPERAT then becomes a strategic tool, because it allows monitor energy performance, of compare buildings to each other And ofidentify economic opportunities.

For this, one condition is essential: to have reliable, consistent and consolidated data. This is where AI and GTB complement each other perfectly.

4. The hidden challenge, the quality of real estate data

Real estate departments now have a considerable amount of data, but it is rarely usable.

The main difficulties encountered are:

• Of multiple sources (sensors, invoices, maintenance systems) without a common format,
• Of inconsistencies or duplicates,
• one lack of traceability and reliability.

Without solid data, it is impossible to prove a gain, to pilot a trajectory or to demonstrate a return on investment.

THEartificial intelligence fixes this problem, it cleans, harmonizes and connects data, identifies anomalies and reconstructs a coherent vision of the energy heritage.

5. How AI is transforming energy management

Once the data is reliable, the AI becomes a real energy co-pilot:

• Trend analysis, to identify unusual variations and overconsumption,
• Prediction, to anticipate consumption peaks depending on weather, occupancy or uses,
• Optimization, to recommend concrete actions (adjust instructions, modify schedules, schedule maintenance),
• Automated reporting, to produce clear balance sheets that can be used by technical and financial departments.

AI does not replace experts; it amplifies their ability to make decisions quickly and based on measurable facts.

6. From regulation to profitability

If the BACS decree is an obligation, it can become a value lever.

A well-used BMS, coupled with intelligent data analysis, often allows:

• a reduction of 10 to 30% in consumption from the first year,
• a reduction in maintenance costs thanks to the early detection of anomalies,
• increased valuation of the building, especially among investors who are sensitive to ESG criteria.

The return on investment is fast, because the gains are cumulative, energy, comfort, reliability and brand image.

7. Towards a data governance of real estate assets

The future of energy performance depends on real estate data governance.

The most advanced players are setting up a clear architecture:

• one common frame of reference buildings and equipment,
• one automatic collection from the BMS, sensors and internal systems,
• one dynamic visualization via smart dashboards,
• one continuous analysis to detect excesses and prioritize actions.

This approach makes it possible to move from simple regulatory monitoring to global management of energy and economic performance.

Conclusion

The BACS decree And the Tertiary decree mark a new era for French tertiary real estate. They impose constraints, of course, but above all they open up new opportunities.

Buildings are becoming valuable data sources. By exploiting them using artificial intelligence, companies can make their information reliable, anticipate their consumption and demonstrate the profitability of their investments.

The challenge is no longer just to be compliant, it's to manage, understand and create value based on the energy data.
AI does not change the real estate management business, it gives it a new dimension.