Best Practices For Energy Management In An Era Of Smart Buildings

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

Corporate energy management is changing today as the smart building agenda forces executives to think more holistically about building performance and capitalize on new opportunities from building-to-grid interactions. This report provides energy and facilities executives with best practice advice for taking their energy programmes forward in an era of a changing real estate priorities and an evolving power system. Verdantix finds that successful energy management requires firms to broaden the horizons of their energy management programmes to support a better workplace experience, improve resiliency and enhance asset management. Firms should also leverage the advances of the IoT and analytics to get new visibility into improvement opportunities, while also reviewing expanding opportunities from more building-to-grid interactions. 
The Smart Building Agenda Forces Executives To Think Holistically About Building Performance
Energy Efficiency Is Too Narrow A Lens To Get The Full Value From Energy Management

Firms Are Revisiting Energy Management Today Given Changing Real Estate Priorities
The Horizon Of Corporate Energy Management Is Expanding To Include Comfort And Facilities Optimization   
Buildings Are Becoming More Active Participants In A Changing Power System 

Firms Have Access To An Expanding Range Of Energy Management Technologies 
More Granular Insights From The IoT And Analytics Are Providing New Visibility Into Efficiency Opportunities 
Lowering Costs Of On-Site Generation And Power Storage Are Creating Drastically Different Opportunities  
Retailers And Flagship Smart Buildings Are Showing The Value Of Applying Technology In Energy Management

A Refreshed Energy Management Strategy Will Help Firms Deliver A Broader Range Of Value 
Energy Management Best Practices: Hypothetical 200-Building University Campus In The US 
1) Revisit Energy Management Objectives To Ensure They Support The Full Real Estate Strategy  
2) Identify Low-Capex Improvement Initiatives By Applying Analytics To Existing Building Data
3) Use The IoT To Deliver Energy Management Remotely And On A More Granular Scale  
4) Explore The Business Case For New Energy Infrastructure Such As Storage, EVs And Onsite Power 
Figure 1. Multiple Factors Have Been Holding Back Energy Efficiency Programmes
Figure 2. The Smart Building Agenda Is Driving Firms To Consider A Broader Set of Energy Objectives
Figure 3. The IoT And Advanced Analytics Are Smartening Up Energy Management
Figure 4. Broad Energy Management Programmes Unlock Greater Value But Are More Complex To Manage
Figure 5. Best Practices For Energy Management At A University Campus

About the Authors

Susan Clarke

Susan Clarke

Research Director

Susan leads the Verdantix Smart Buildings practice. Her current research agenda focuses on software solutions for real estate management including integrated workplace managem...

Rodolphe d’Arjuzon

Rodolphe d’Arjuzon

Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder

Rodolphe co-founded Verdantix in 2008. As Chief Product Officer, he leads the firm’s research strategy and intellectual agenda. With over 20 years of experience in techn...

View Profile

Other related content

Webinar
Real Estate, Facilities & Workplace Tech
Real Estate Leaders
Built Environment Energy & Decarbonization
The Future Of Data Centre Management: A...

AI workloads are increasing infrastructure demands at the same time as energy costs, capacity constraints and sustainability requirements continue to rise. As a result, many data c...

Upcoming / 26 August, 2026

Webinar
Real Estate, Facilities & Workplace Tech
Real Estate Leaders
Built Environment Energy & Decarbonization
From Forecast to Funding: Modelling You...

Energy costs are volatile, trade route supply is uncertain, grids are unstable, and boards are demanding proof before capital moves. This webinar explores how leading real estate a...

Upcoming / 04 August, 2026

Blog
Built Environment Energy & Decarbonization
Ireland's Data Centres Have Outgrown th...

EirGrid, Ireland's national electricity transmission operator, has forecast that electricity demand from data centres in Ireland will rise from 9.4TWh in 2025 to 14.6TWh in 2034,...

02 July, 2026

Blog
Built Environment Energy & Decarbonization
Microsoft Is Heating Finland's Homes. T...

As AI drives a global boom in data centre construction, a new question is emerging: should these facilities be treated as isolated commercial infrastructure, or designed as part of...

30 June, 2026

Webinar
Sustainable Supply Chains
Sustainability Assurance & Due Diligence
Sustainability & Climate Risks
ESG & Sustainability Reporting Software
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
Corporate Sustainability & Climate Change Services
Corporate Energy Transition Solutions
Climate Financial Data & Analytics
Corporate Energy Leaders
Carbon Management Software
Built Environment Energy & Decarbonization
Full Charge Ahead: Navigating The EV Ch...

EV charging management software is moving quickly from a niche operational tool to a critical enterprise system, and the urgency for buyers is only increasing as the market matures...

18 June, 2026

Blog
Built Environment Energy & Decarbonization
Labour, Carbon, Housing Costs – Why 3D-...

Real estate is being squeezed from three directions at once. Construction costs continue to rise, pushing housing affordability further out of reach in many markets. Developers are...

16 June, 2026