Strategic Focus: Strategies, Technologies And Tools To Unlock Commercial Retrofits
Ben Readman
Access this research
Access all Built Environment Energy & Decarbonization content with a strategic subscription or buy this single report
Need help or have a question about this report? Contact us for assistance
Executive Summary
The real estate industry is facing a major challenge in scaling up retrofits to the required rate: deep retrofitting rates must more than double if the industry is to achieve net zero by 2050. Many of the technologies required to transition buildings to net zero are already available, meaning that the issue facing the industry is one of enablement, rather than innovation. The balance of risks and opportunities must swing in favour of retrofitting to accelerate progress. This report helps building owners understand how evolving drivers and barriers are working simultaneously to both encourage and throttle retrofitting. It explores key retrofit principles, to deliver a deeper understanding of risks and opportunities, and outlines those technologies supporting successful retrofit project designs and delivery.
The landscape around retrofits is evolving as pressure to decarbonize builds
New opportunities are emerging in building retrofits, amid the growth of green finance, regulations and carbon-consciousness
Commercial viability continues to create delivery issues for retrofits, despite increasing interest
Strategy tips and emerging technologies to retrofit at scale
Five principles to guide successful retrofit projects
An array of technologies and services is unlocking the door to scaling up retrofits
Tech is revolutionizing retrofits to be faster, cheaper and less disruptive
Figure 2. Retrofit project types and purposes
Figure 3. Maximizing retrofit efficiency
Figure 4. Stages of facilities manager and operations team involvement in capital projects
Figure 5. Additional data and forecasting are required to make the business case for retrofits
About the Authors
Ben Readman
Industry Analyst
Ben is an Industry Analyst covering the real estate sector, with a focus on data centres and hotels. His core research covers more than 100 vendors in the energy efficiency, s...
Claire Stephens
Research Director
Claire Stephens is a Research Director at Verdantix, leading research into technologies and services shaping the real estate and the built environment, encompassing ...
View ProfileOther related content
Sustainability leaders are navigating changing rules while making sure every claim stands up to scrutiny. The EU Omnibus has narrowed reporting requirements and clarified timelines...
Upcoming / 27 January, 2027
Buildings are increasingly judged on how well they perform, as energy costs and carbon targets put pressure on portfolios and tenant expectations continue to rise. Connecting build...
Upcoming / 20 January, 2027
A Super El Niño is under way, and its consequences for energy systems are already visible. Hydro generation capacity is declining as water reserves fall, grid stress is intensifyin...
Upcoming / 01 December, 2026
Imagine swimming home after a century away and finding the front door finally open. That's roughly what happened on the Klamath River in October 2025, when Chinook salmon reached t...
29 October, 2026
Most sites run meters and equipment from several brands, so energy data ends up in spreadsheets and ISO 50001 savings are hard to prove. Dayann Charles (Verdantix) and Karthik Aru...
Upcoming / 24 November, 2026
Agentic AI has become the label of choice for real estate software vendors, but Verdantix finds that genuine agentic capability delivers value in a far narrower band than roadmaps ...
15 October, 2026