Why data is key to solving commercial property energy challenges

Cutting energy consumption is a multi-layered problem for commercial property managers. In a panel discussion, some of the key players in this area explained why data is key to tackling their biggest challenges.

“Those of you who’ve worked with data know how hard it can be to get accurate, transparent data.” Ying Seow, Director of Sustainable Operations at JLL, was speaking at the Sustainably Speaking commercial property panel on Earth Day. “And once you get the data, how do you understand it, turn it into insights?”

JLL is a global property management firm with clients in many different sectors, from technology to manufacturing to academia. Seow’s role involves helping this diverse client base to achieve their sustainability goals, with data informing the strategy.

Beyond compliance

For many commercial property managers, compliance is the initial driver for data collection. The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) require non-domestic buildings to be above a certain EPC rating before they can be legally let, and these standards are set to tighten to EPC B for large buildings. NABERS UK is also important; it assesses how energy-efficient an office building is when it’s actually in use.

But compliance is just the starting point. Seow shared the example of one of JLL’s flagship buildings. JLL have achieved a five-star NABERS rating for it, but their work isn’t about chasing certifications.

“We move beyond compliance to the additional value elements,” she explained. “Energy prices are high, so how can we use this data to make additional savings?” The flagship building has a dedicated performance manager who shares the energy data gathered. “He looks at the data, sits with the engineers, then converts all that information to engage with the tenants to try and bring down the energy used.”

Tenant engagement

There are multiple reasons for commercial landlords to get tenants on board with energy efficiency measures. Firstly, as the users of your buildings they have a huge impact on operational emissions.

Secondly, sharing energy data with them can improve tenant satisfaction and your relationship with them. Many tenant businesses will have their own goals around reducing energy use and cutting their carbon footprint, and commercial landlords can add value by helping with this.

Malcolm Hanna is senior sustainability manager at Legal & General. L&G are better known as an insurance and pensions provider, but the company has been active in the real estate space since 1971. L&G currently manage assets worth over £22bn on their clients’ behalf. 

This means handling relationships with commercial tenants. Hanna said: “We have a real range of businesses occupying our buildings. Bigger companies like M&S or Amazon have their own systems. But we have lots of smaller tenants.”

The Legal & General strategy is to give tenants access to their own energy profile on the company’s Vista platform. Energy consumption data can only drive change if it’s communicated in the right way. Hanna added: “In some cases we’re also exploring the use of consultants who can talk to occupiers and say, do you realise your energy profile looks like this? You could be doing some different things to make savings.”

Gamifying energy data

When tenants are already motivated to cut energy use, just giving them the data can be effective. But most of the time, property managers need to do the legwork: identifying ways that tenants can cut energy use, then encouraging those changes.

Seow said that demand management was an important tool: “moving some activities from load-intensive periods to low-carbon periods”. Time-shifting energy use means a lower carbon footprint for the exact same consumption. But most businesses could cut consumption too, if they explored all the options. (It’s why the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme exists.)

Behavioural change can be a rich source of easy wins. Simple measures like turning down the thermostat or stopping tenants from leaving the lights on all night can add up to big energy savings.

Seow shared a smart strategy that JLL uses for getting tenants engaged: “Sometimes we gamify it. We get the tenants in competition with one another, put a little league table, and it gets people to start working together as well.”

Data informing transition

Improving existing buildings means avoiding the carbon cost of construction and demolition. But it’s often logistically tougher than creating a new building from scratch.

Discussing his work at Legal & General, Hanna said: “The new builds may be a little bit easier. One of the biggest challenges we have is retrofitting work when we have occupiers in situ.” The move towards building electrification has been made more urgent by recent hikes in the global price of fossil fuels. Property managers can reduce their portfolio’s gas dependence by replacing traditional boilers with electric heating and hot water. But this isn’t necessarily cheaper in the short term, and involves a complex assessment of current site capacity against future needs.  “We need to make sure that our occupiers have energy available when they need it, in the quantities they need it.”

Again, data is key. Legal & General have been working with Sustainable Energy First to assess their site capacity and plan for the future.

Seow said that JLL have also been working with Sustainable Energy First to develop individual risk profiles for every asset in their portfolio. “We’re bringing the data set together to understand where the risks lie, just understanding where our options are to build in resilience.” 

This kind of assessment is complex because of all the competing priorities that commercial property managers have to balance. In the words of Hanna: “Resilience comes in different manifestations.”

This panel discussion formed part of Sustainable Energy First’s Earth Day: Target Zero event in April 2026. We host several free events throughout the year to help businesses with their energy and carbon challenges. Get in touch via the form below to be notified of the next one.