Quantifying the Impact of Environmental Interventions in Commercial Real Estate | Better Buildings & Better Plants Initiative

As shown in the graph above:

EcoTracker BMS software resulted in a 25% energy reduction over 10 years
Building Certification resulted in a 23% reduction over 7 years
Tenant Engagement Programs (ForeverGreen) resulted in a 12.5% reduction over 4 years

Leveraging both BMS software and tenant engagement programs provided an additional 20% reduction in electricity consumption over five years compared to buildings without any intervention. Tenant engagement efforts were critical for generating immediate efficiency improvements and showed increasing efficiency gains over time as engagement campaigns were repeated. Additionally, the results suggest that building certifications like LEED can result in immediate savings that continue to improve over time.

The research findings imply that other property owners and managers should consider a holistic approach to energy efficiency at their properties. Combining “soft” interventions like tenant engagement with “hard” technical solutions like software and equipment upgrades can generate sustained electricity savings throughout the course of an asset’s hold period.

This study also sheds light on the collective impacts of design, operating efficiency, equipment maintenance, and tenant engagement, and how they interact to shape a buildings’ bottom line. While environmental certification does contribute to reduced energy consumption, it is not the sole driver, and should be packaged with ongoing engagement and upkeep efforts to maximize performance.

To read more about the methodology and full results behind this research, click here.

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