The real estate sector is entering a silent energy crisis

What is happening is not a cyclical variation, but a gradual shift. A building's ability to operate efficiently, control its energy consumption, and absorb energy shocks is becoming a determining factor in its real value. In other words, it is no longer just the purchase price of an asset that matters, but its long-term operating costs.

In Europe, nearly 75% of the building stock is still energy inefficient, according to the European Commission. This figure reflects more than just environmental shortcomings. It highlights a massive, and still largely underestimated, economic vulnerability that is already redefining the asset hierarchy.

Assets still being managed blindly

The real estate sector faces a more demanding equation, balancing regulatory pressure, ESG reporting requirements, and volatile energy prices. Yet, buildings are still largely managed with limited visibility.

The data exists but remains fragmented, scattered across systems, and rarely used in real time. Decisions are still based on partial data, which prevents any rapid action.

Under these conditions, the problems become structural. Equipment operates without any connection to actual use, settings remain fixed, and anomalies become entrenched. Managing with monthly data means only noticing discrepancies once they have already had an impact.

Between 10 and 20% of the energy consumed in commercial buildings is wasted due to a lack of precise management. At the portfolio level, this inefficiency represents a significant cost and a direct loss of value.

Energy data is becoming an operational lever

The ongoing shift is not based solely on renovation, but on the ability to make existing buildings controllable.

Advances in data and artificial intelligence now allow for much more precise management. Energy data can be cross-referenced with occupancy and external conditions to continuously adjust equipment operation.

These approaches allow for energy savings of between 10 and 30% without major renovations. The building is no longer a static object; it becomes a dynamic system capable of adapting.

Data is no longer just for observation; it's becoming a tool for action. It allows for continuous anticipation and optimization. Ultimately, each asset will incorporate a form of intelligent management, directly linked to its economic performance.

Towards a fracture in the real estate market

This transformation is reshaping the real estate market. A dividing line is emerging between two asset classes. On one side, there are managed buildings, capable of controlling their energy consumption, optimizing their costs, and meeting the expectations of investors and regulators. On the other, there are buildings subject to uncontrolled management, whose operation remains opaque and whose costs are unstable.

This divergence will accelerate. Some assets will continue to appreciate in value while others will gradually become obsolete. In this new context, a building will be judged on its ability to operate efficiently over time. The next real estate crisis will take hold gradually, as the gap widens between assets that can be managed proactively and those that remain passive.

The distinction will be clear. It will be between those who control their energy and those who are controlled by it.

Opinion piece by Wiktor Bourée, CEO of Technis (LinkedIn).