Strategic Focus: Strategies, Technologies And Tools To Unlock Commercial Retrofits
Access this research
Access all Energy, Decarbonization & Sustainability of Buildings 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...
View Profile
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
As attention shifts away from net zero target setting to asset level decarbonization, many firms are discovering critical disconnect between their energy management efforts and cor...
Upcoming / 24 September, 2025
As real estate and facilities teams rethink their tech stacks for a decarbonized, digitized future, AI is taking centre stage. This webinar explores how leading firms are applying ...
Upcoming / 25 September, 2025
As firms seek measurable emissions reductions and cost savings, energy resilience is becoming a core pillar of sustainability strategy. Decarbonization initiatives, once driven pri...
17 September, 2025
Did you know that energy consumers are now active players in the energy grid? The old one-way flow from a central power station to your building is a thing of the past. Now, anyo...
28 August, 2025
Over the last five years, firms have faced heightened scrutiny of their ESG and sustainability performance. Regulators, investors and customers are demanding more and better-qualit...
19 August, 2025
The buzz around AI at London’s 2025 Digital Construction Week event was symbolic of a broader industry shift towards embracing AI for good. Construction management software’s AI-dr...
26 June, 2025