JLL has found the most energy-efficient buildings cost 43 percent to 75 percent less to operate annually than the least efficient buildings in the same city, producing savings of $1.58 to $5.13 per square foot.
The firm said rising energy costs, tighter regulation and aging building systems are making efficiency a more significant operating-cost and resilience consideration for commercial real estate.
Across six electricity markets studied, commercial electricity prices increased 11 percent to 91 percent more than local inflation between 2020 and 2024.
The value of efficiency has increased alongside those costs, with the annual energy savings associated with the best-performing Los Angeles offices rising from $2.78 per square foot in 2019 to $4.06 in 2024.
In New York City, the comparable savings increased from $2.27 to $2.69 per square foot during the same period.
JLL also identified a readiness gap, with energy efficiency ranking fourth among the
