80% of the buildings expected to be in use in 2050 have already been built, and many of these are at risk of becoming stranded assets as they do not meet future requirements for sustainability and energy efficiency.
The stranded properties
Investing in property has been safe and lucrative in many countries for a long time. Now, however, investors and owners of older buildings risk lower returns, higher operating costs, more expensive financing and insurance, and lower occupancy rates.
Take the UK as an example: By 2027, commercial buildings that do not have an energy performance certificate (EPC) of C or above will no longer be able to be traded or leased in the UK. These regulations are expected to become even stricter over time, and by 2030 buildings will need an EPC of B or higher!
There are many buildings in the UK that currently do not meet these demands.
How can energy data reduce the risk?
Energy data can provide valuable insights into the energy performance of a building, as well as the opportunities and potential for improvement.
With the help of energy data, older buildings can become smarter and more energy efficient, in a way that can be documented and verified. The latter is imperative for meeting the EU's new taxonomy and sustainability directives.
Read more about the EU Taxonomy and it’s impact on real estate.
With reliable data, you can:
- Identify and prioritize the most cost-effective energy efficiency measures
- Monitor and document energy savings and returns on implemented measures
- Quickly identify and rectify deviations or faults in technical systems
- Increase the energy performance certificate of the building
- Reduce the energy costs and carbon footprint of the building
- Improve the comfort and well-being of the building's users
- Offer tenants better insight and control of their own consumption
Older buildings can thus be brought up to today's standards without the need for demolition and new construction.
How to get started
To collect and use energy data in older buildings, you need to go through some important steps:
- Assess the building to determine what to measure
- Select and install the meters and sensors needed, and integrate to existing where and if possible
- Choose and implement software(s) and platforms to collect, visualize, and use the data
- Analyze the data, implement necessary measures, and document the effects of these measures
- Continuously monitor and evaluate energy consumption, performance, and changes to make new informed decisions
At Å Insite, we specialize in the first two steps and are integrated and collaborating with companies that can assist you with step 4 and 5.
We know that energy data is just one part of everything you are expected to keep track of, and we understand that this is not at the top of everyone's priority list. However, energy data is and will be an investment that secures you against future regulations and opens up a range of new opportunities - such as AI.
Please reach out if you need help getting started!
