Barometer of energy and environmental performance of residential and tertiary buildings

A benchmark study of the real estate sector in France, this barometer provides a precise overview of the energy and environmental performance of the residential and tertiary sector, based on a sample of more than 31.200 buildings representing 113 million m2.

Looking back to 2023: a sector under pressure, but progressing

The year 2023 was marked by a persistent inflationary crisis, reflected in particular in the sharp rise in energy prices (multiplied by 2 for companies between 2021 and 2023). This economic factor is added to the ambitious regulatory framework with which the real estate sector must comply: tertiary decree, BACS decree, European Taxonomy, solarization and greening of roofs... Faced with these challenges, the sector has managed to initiate significant progress:

• All building typologies analyzed show a clear drop in their consumption between 2022 and 2023, even once climate variations are removed.
• Associated greenhouse gas emissions are also decreasing for all building types
• The drop in consumption is more marked for the tertiary sector (-7,1%) than for the residential sector (-2,1%).
• 113 million m2 analyzed, a coverage representing a sample without equivalent in France.

A reinforced methodology for even more reliable data

In 2024, the barometer adopted a new methodology to recalculate data at constant scope since 2010 for the oldest. This recalibration guarantees a consistent and precise reading of trends in real building consumption.

The indicators analyzed include: final and primary energy consumption of buildings (kWh/m2/year), GHG emissions (kgCO2eq/m2/year), water consumption (m3/m2/year) and waste production (kg/m2/year), for a global vision of environmental performance.

These indicators were calculated for the main building types: Offices, Shopping centers, Hotels, Logistics, Health, Collective residential.

BPE 2024: Developments observed between 2022 and 2023 and outlook by typology

• Offices:
  • Final consumption of offices fell by 7,1%
  • Part of the good office performance observed since 2021 is attributable to the widespread adoption of teleworking
  • A trajectory in line with the objectives of the tertiary decree (-40% by 2030 compared to 2010-2019), provided that efforts continue.
• Shopping centers :
  • -13,5% drop in final energy consumption despite a slight increase in attendance (+2% between 2022 and 2023).
  • A persistent challenge: the collection of consumption data from private rental areas (shops)
• Hotels:
  • Return to attendance levels before the health crisis.
  • Significant drop in final consumption (-6,1%)
  • Larger energy deposits in the most luxurious hotels
• Logistics:
  • Ambient temperature warehouses show a decrease in consumption of -8%, while cold infrastructures are experiencing stabilization.
  • Consumption down 7,6%
  • Separate indicators for ambient temperature warehouses and cold storage are published for the first time in the Barometer
• health:
  • Energy efficiency is progressing despite increased pressure on establishments.
  • 4,3% drop in consumption despite stable (EHPAD) or even increasing (hospitals and clinics) building use
  • Indicators comparing the energy performance of retirement homes in different European countries are published for the first time.
• Collective residential:
  • A moderate drop of -2,1%, due in particular to the greening of the energy mix.
  • A more moderate drop in consumption (-2,1%)
  • A drop in emissions observed since 2018 is more attributable to the greening of the energy mix than to a drop in energy consumption

Lessons from European Taxonomy

The Barometer also analyses buildings that meet the sustainability criteria of the European Taxonomy. The publication of the Top15% and Top30% for primary energy consumption provides valuable references for investors wishing to align their real estate portfolios with the European Union's climate objectives.

Resources accessible to all

The full BPE 2024 report, detailed data and complete methodology are available in open access on the OID Resource Center. Essential transparency to encourage collaboration and innovation in the ecological transition of the real estate sector.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.