Barometer on the energy consumption of commercial buildings

This precise data was collected between June 2024 and June 2025 thanks to the connected energy management system installed in these buildings.

The challenge of climate change

The average heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) ratio per surface area in this sample of buildings was 27,7 kWh per m² for the year studied. By comparison, figures from the Observatory for Energy Performance in Renovation and Tertiary Sector Actions (OPERAT), published by ADEME, indicate a target HVAC level of 56 kWh/m² for 2030, representing a consumption more than twice as high.

How can such a discrepancy be explained? The sample studied in the Mitsubishi Electric barometer is atypical compared to the average: it consists of higher-performing buildings (because they are newer or renovated), which also use connected devices to better manage their consumption and increase their energy efficiency. In the context of climate change, these results demonstrate the importance of building quality and the use of this type of technology.

Furthermore, a study published on October 7, 2025, by ADEME highlighted the effectiveness of heat pump systems, which drastically reduce energy consumption. An air-to-water heat pump can halve heating bills compared to gas, and replacing electric radiators with air-to-air heat pumps also halves electricity consumption.

Scope of the Mitsubishi Electric study on energy consumption

Data covering a full year: June 2024 – June 2025

The study covers more than 1.600 indoor units, representing a total of 34.800 m2, or an average of 41 heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) systems per site.

Total HVAC consumption of the studied building stock during the reference year: 1.341 MWh

Energy consumption ratio per m2 for heating and air conditioning: 27,7 (kWh/m2)

3 key markets

• Bank branches: 59% or 8.671 m2
• Offices: 31% or 21.633 m2
• Hotels: 10% or 4.484 m2

Overall consumption for these 3 markets

• Air conditioning: 451,4 Mwh, 33,7%
• Heating: 889,6 MWh, 66,3%

Marked sectoral differences

It should be noted that in hotels, HVAC consumption is approximately three times higher than in offices (an average of 90 kWh/m² compared to 29,4 kWh/m²). This is due to the use of these spaces, which are occupied day and night, unlike banks and offices, and to guests who have very high expectations in terms of thermal comfort.

The hotel infrastructure studied, mostly located in southeastern France, is also much more dependent on air conditioning (62% of their energy consumption) compared to heating (38%), whereas the trend is reversed in offices (77% for heating and 23% for air conditioning) and banks (82%/18%). The location of these hotels, as well as a traditionally higher occupancy rate in summer, may explain this difference.

Hot-cold distribution

Another finding from the Mitsubishi Electric barometer: the rate of equipment using connected energy optimization tools is almost three times higher in offices (70%) than the average for the commercial building sector[1] (25% of sites equipped overall). This indicator may also explain the difference in consumption observed between offices and hotels, as these tools are an effective way to control energy costs and achieve the targets set by the French Tertiary Sector Decree – which requires buildings larger than 1.000 m² to reduce their energy consumption by 60% by 2050.

Effective solutions for better managing your energy consumption

The study highlights the importance of connected energy management solutions, and in particular the implementation of time programming, i.e. setting different instructions according to occupancy periods (day/night, weekday/weekend), which makes it possible to reduce consumption by 37%.

Finally, among connected energy management solutions, the hybrid VRF system with energy recovery, incorporating dual setpoint control, is the most efficient. This system automatically activates and deactivates both heating and air conditioning when a specific temperature is reached. According to the Mitsubishi Electric barometer, this technology offers energy savings of 24% compared to other technologies with a single setpoint control (activating either heating or air conditioning).

According to Antoine Sanchez, France Director of National Specification at Mitsubishi Electric Europe: “This in-depth study of a wide range of commercial buildings is unprecedented on this scale. It will allow us to track the impact of climate change on energy consumption. We are proud to launch the Mitsubishi Electric Barometer to meet this need, but also to find sustainable and intelligent solutions to this major challenge.”

[1] With an area of ​​over 1.000 m2.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.