1. An intelligent system element for operation in a building control and automation system (BCAS), the intelligent system element comprising: a communication interface configured to enable communication via a link of a data communication network with other intelligent system elements of the BCAS; a processor coupled to communicate via the communication interface and the network link; a memory accessible to the processor; and programming in the memory which configures the processor to implement functions, including functions to: control operations of other intelligent system elements of the BCAS; and when the intelligent system element has a building control and automation processing job to perform using resources of others of the intelligent system elements: allocate portions of the processing job to a plurality of the other intelligent system elements; send data and instructions to each intelligent system element of the plurality of the other intelligent system elements, for performing an allocated portion of the processing job; receive from at least some of the plurality of the other intelligent system elements results of the performance of the allocated portions of the processing job; process the received results to determine an overall result of the processing job; and perform a building control and automation action based on the overall result of the processing job.