Problem Addressed

With commercial buildings in the UK responsible for 23% of built environment carbon emissions, urgent action must be taken to retrofit these buildings at scale. In addition to the climate impact, commercial retrofit will be required to meet the growing demand for sustainable office space in the UK.

In commercial real estate there is also lack of data-driven insights which makes it difficult for informed decisions to be made around retrofit. Many commercial buildings are unsophisticated and understanding the feasibility of different retrofit options can be expensive and complex.

Solution Overview

Various digital platforms are emerging seeking to address this challenge, through helping property professionals understand their buildings and make informed decisions around retrofit. Many of these platforms provide details on current asset performance then create actionable plans including expected costs, predicted future performance, risks, and returns on investment.

These platforms utilise a range of data sources, including energy performance certificates, environmental data, occupancy patterns, building design, street view, energy bills, planning data and user feedback. Some platforms also create dynamic models or use AI to estimate energy consumption and carbon emissions and simulate different scenarios. They then use this information to provide an overview of the sustainability of their buildings, highlight areas for improvement and the impact of interventions. Examples of interventions may include demand response, renewable energy procurement, onsite renewable energy, optimisation and heat pumps.

Some of these platforms also partner with financing organisations and contractors to accomplish the work required for retrofit. A few are developing a marketplace of approved assessors, installers and suppliers.

The table below includes information about many of the solutions in this area with information provided by the solution provider. Please click on the company names to see more information about each solution.

Company nameBuilding typeTarget customer and real estate processBusiness edge / prescribed methodsOutput formatOutput informationImplementationStage of development
Perse TechnologyCommercial (Residential available from Q2 2024)B2B (shortly extended to B2C) – Looking to provide instant costs and payback of installing low carbon techUses actual energy (electricity and gas) consumption data and costs. Also use industry methodologies for costs of low carbon technologies installationPDF or APICurrent asset performance, carbon footprint of energy supply, EPC data, building fabric data, building size and building use data, retrofit recommendations (by payback, time, cost, and impact), future impact of improvementsLinks clients directly to installers of low carbon technologiesSolution is live to a number of clients
OptimlCommercial, Residential, and Light IndustrialFits in between ESG reporting and Tender & Execution. B2B (Real estate asset managers and consultants) – Provide strategy optimisation to action planning relating to CapEx, OpEx, Energy, Valuation/ROI, and Policy aspects.Optimises large portfolios to detailed assets with proprietary, science-based AI connecting finance and engineering. Optimisation & energy simulation models, AI data enrichment to enhance low quality data, and include a UI/UX platform for decision-making and target achievementPDF, API, Excel, or Web-based platformCurrent asset performance, future EPC, retrofit recommendations (to component and system level), ROI and Valuation of asset strategies, alignment to target, sensitivity analysis and riskPartners with consultancies and real estate management softwares who support in implementationSolution is live in DACH + UK for full-scale implementation already with reference clients. Already conducted over 30 pilots across Europe and US)
MapMortarAll commercially owned and managed assetsB2B – Retrofit planning and management across large portfoliosWhole-building simulation technology, enriched by AI, estimated to triple the speed and double the accuracy of processes compared to the status quoPDF, API, Excel, or Web-based Dashboard and PlatformCurrent asset performance, future EPC, retrofit recommendations, impact on valuation, different scenarios across portfolio (buy, sell, hold), transition riskPlatform available to both property owners and property advisorsReady for pilot
SkenarioLabsAll assetsB2B – Banking / Real Estate: Provide green mortgage/finance analysis, compliance and reporting data, and climate resilience analysis. Government / Public Sector: provide Net Zero Neighbourhood analysis and general decarbonisation analysis at scale. Insurance: provide reconstruction cost analysis and climate resilience analysis for portfoliosMinimal data requirements. Building modelling, (not just EPC modelling) for more detailed assessments. Models how the main elements (value, performance, risk) impact each other. Can work at large scales, including whole portfolios, cities, and regions. Uses advances ML including gradient boosting algorithms and convolutional neural networksPDF, API, Excel, Frontends (custom or whitelabelled)Data enrichment, market valuation, insurance / reconstruction valuation, value-at-risk calculations, current asset performance, retrofitting modelling and costing, retrofit optimisation modelling to cost/carbon/other factors, financial / regulatory compliance risk, current climate / physical risk, future climate/physical riskPlatform can integrate to other solutions in the supply/decision making chainReady for pilot and /or full-scale commercial implementation
LookthroughMultifamily homes, office buildings, logistics buildingsPortfolio owners and managers looking to decide on the most critical buildings and renovation actions in their portfolios. Platform-based model with a questionnaire using network effects to quickly gather the data required. AI Scenario modelling quickly identifies the most efficient way to achieve efficiency improvements. There are a range of parameters that can be chosen from including Co2 downscaling, planning the cost of energetic property renovation, identifying buildings with biggest impact. minimising transition risks, making buildings more energy efficient, etc.Excel, Web-based dashboard, API (by request)Cost per sqm
Emission per sqm
Which building elements need upgrading 
Retrofit recommendations (fabric, heating systems, technologies, lighting systems etc) 
Once the recommendations have been made the information is then passed onto architects / engineers for delivery, but impacts continue to be tracked through the platformHave been operating for the last 2 years approx., and currently have 40,000+ buildings on the platform.
Building AtlasAny building, but focus on non-residentialB2B – net zero plans and retrofit recommendations across portfolios – offered to asset owners, tenants and consultancies supporting them.. Modelling large portfolios using minimal data, using new AI methods to recommend the fastest, most cost-effective path to net zero. PDF, API, Excel, or Web-based Dashboard and Platform. Metrics on your buildings, including building physics and energy usage; net zero plans and retrofit scenario modelling,  current and future asset performance – energy usage intensity, EPC rating and more.Platform is available to asset owners and consultancies who support implementation of net zero plans. Also open to custom interfaces to client systems as needed.Ready for pilots and full commercial delivery.

This page presents data, evidence, and solutions that are provided by our partners and members and should therefore not be attributed to UKGBC. While we showcase these solutions for inspiration, to build consensus, and create momentum for climate action, UKGBC does not offer commercial endorsement of individual solutions. If you would like to quote something from this page, or more information, please contact our Communications team at media@ukgbc.org.

Related