Progress through practice: shaping energy strategy in commercial real estate
READ TIME: 6min
AUDIO
In a world where change is the only constant , the true worth of your assets isn’t always clear.
Solar, batteries and wheeling renewable energy all have a role, but none should stand alone.
Energy efficiency is often referred to as the first fuel, as the most effective energy strategy begins by using less. Efficiency is often overlooked because it feels incremental, yet it delivers the biggest and most reliable gains. Replacing outdated lighting with LEDs, upgrading cooling systems to modern low energy alternatives, or ensuring buildings are only conditioned when occupied all reduce consumption immediately. These projects may not be eye-catching, but they shift the baseline permanently. Lower demand means lower bills, and it also means every later step, from installing solar panels to investing in storage, becomes more cost effective. In commercial property, where utilities are one of the largest controllable expenses, efficiency is the foundation on which every other part of the energy mix depends.
It starts with insight Energy management starts with insight. Without the right data, waste remains invisible. One meter for an entire building hides the problem, but multiple meters, benchmarks and dashboards bring it into focus. They reveal the office that consumes as much power on weekends as it does during the week, or the tenant whose usage far exceeds peers of a similar size. Once those patterns are visible, conversations begin and habits can shift. Cooling is more closely matched to occupancy; lights are switched off sooner; and demand tapers during quiet periods. Data makes waste visible, and once it is visible, it can be changed. The next step is to act on those insights through measures that permanently reduce demand. Using less to gain more
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By Leon Kok: Chief Operating Officer at Redefine Properties
E nergy is no longer a background cost in a driver of competitiveness. Rising tariffs, new supply models and investor expectations mean the way buildings use and procure electricity shapes both operating margins and long- term resilience. In addition, investors increasingly judge portfolios on this basis. There commercial property, but
is no single fix. Solar, batteries and wheeling renewable energy all have a role, but none should stand alone. What works is a layered approach that starts with efficiency and then builds towards renewables, wheeling and storage where conditions allow. The sequence matters, and every step must make sense financially and operationally.
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Leon Kok
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October 2025 | Issue 141 | Asset Magazine 91 Issue 107 | Asset Magazine 91
October 2025 | Issue 141 | Asset Magazine 91
90 Asset Magazine | Issue 141 | October 2025
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