Publications

Measures that work: Lower energy costs need pragmatism, not symbolism
- July 1, 2026: Vol. 20, Number 7

To read this full article you need to be subscribed to Institutional Real Estate Europe

Measures that work: Lower energy costs need pragmatism, not symbolism

by Alexandra Stubbe

Anyone who wants to make existing residential buildings more energy-efficient faces a simple but decisive question: does the measure actually make economic sense?

Climate protection in the building stock will only succeed if lower energy consumption, reduced carbon dioxide emissions and economic viability all come together. At the end of the day, what matters is not a sustainability label, a checklist or a political target on paper, but the relationship between the effect achieved and the financial effort required.

Start with the economics

This question has become even more relevant as energy costs continue to affect both tenants and landlords.

In residential buildings, inefficient energy use does not remain an abstract ESG issue. It appears directly in the service charge statement. If consumption can be reduced, tenants benefit from lower running costs and owners benefit from a more attractive, more resilient property. Energy efficiency

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click Here.

Forgot your username or password?