Decarbonisation has become one of the defining challenges for commercial property landlords, not only to meet sustainability targets, but also to protect long-term asset value and comply with evolving regulations. With tenants, investors, and regulators all demanding more sustainable operations, energy performance is increasingly tied to financial performance.

Yet despite strong intentions, many landlords struggle to know where to start. Rising costs, complex regulations, and fragmented data can make it difficult to see a clear path forward, leading to inaction and missed opportunities.

To maintain your estate’s competitiveness and unlock its full potential, here are practical steps to start reducing carbon and optimising energy performance.

Better energy management starts with better data

Before investing in renewables or major infrastructure changes, start by improving visibility of the energy used. Many properties can achieve substantial carbon and cost reductions through implementing operational efficiencies alone.

Lighting, HVAC, and air handling systems often account for most of the energy used in commercial buildings, and small upgrades or adjustments can quickly deliver measurable savings.

Conducting an energy audit or implementing sub-metering at tenant, unit, or building level can provide the data needed to:

• Identify where and when energy is being wasted
• Benchmark performance and use across sites or tenancies
• Target improvements with the greatest impact

In short, better data enables smarter decisions and opportunities for measurable improvements.

Power up your energy contract

Energy procurement is often overlooked as a decarbonisation tool, yet the right energy contract can play a vital role in achieving both sustainability and cost objectives.

By reviewing your supply arrangements and exploring renewable energy contracts or Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), you can improve sustainability and better align the energy sourced to meet the operational profile of your tenants. A tailored contract strategy can help you:

• Lock in competitive rates at the right time
• Build flexibility to capitalise on price drops
• Reduce the overall carbon footprint
• Increase your share of renewables without upfront capital

Tackling the funding challenge

One of the biggest perceived barriers for landlords is funding. Competing priorities and tight budgets can make energy projects feel out of reach, but in reality, many improvements can pay for themselves through the savings they deliver.

Energy efficiency upgrades, smart controls, and on-site renewables can provide strong returns over time. Beyond internal investment, a range of funding options exist:

• Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) – funders cover installation and maintenance of renewable systems, selling back the energy at a reduced rate.
• Government or sustainability schemes – often support energy efficiency or low-carbon upgrades and can help with different aspects of their related cost.
• Shared savings models – allow you to pay for improvements over a contract period from a percentage of the savings achieved.

By exploring funding holistically, you can remove some of the cost barriers and accelerate your net-zero journey.

Taking a holistic view

The commercial property sector is changing fast, and those who take steps to stay ahead of carbon and sustainability pressures will be best positioned to attract tenants, investors, and long-term value. Working with an experienced energy consultancy can help you see the bigger picture by combining data, funding opportunities, compliance requirements and technology to deliver tangible outcomes.

Ultimately, reducing carbon isn’t just about compliance, it’s about staying competitive in a changing market. Whether you manage one site or a national portfolio, taking the first step can uncover significant opportunities for cost saving.

If you’d like to explore what’s possible across your estate, get in touch with one of our energy experts. No jargon, no pressure, just clear, reliable guidance to help you turn ambition into action.