How can property owners stay ahead in sustainability?

The EU’s new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), stricter energy requirements, uncertainty around reporting obligations, and higher expectations from investors and tenants all contribute to the growing complexity of sustainability work for property owners. At the same time, these developments create significant opportunities for those who choose to act early — provided they have the right strategy, access to reliable data, and the ability to execute.

Newsec’s sustainability experts act as an extension of the property owner’s organisation, ensuring that sustainability efforts are carried out efficiently, in compliance with regulations, and in a way that strengthens property value, supports the client’s business objectives, and contributes to a sustainable transition.

How can property owners address their most common sustainability challenges?

• Develop a guiding sustainability strategy and action plan
  Property owners need a portfolio-wide, value-driven sustainability strategy that covers all material ESG factors and is clearly linked to business objectives. By assessing the current situation, defining a target state, and considering stakeholder requirements and regulations — and by translating this into a concrete action plan with clear targets, priorities, responsibilities and, follow-up — the foundation for successful implementation is established.
  
  
• Set climate targets aligned with the 1.5°C pathway
  Property owners must ensure that their climate ambitions are aligned with the 1.5°C target and national climate goals. This requires systematic mapping of emissions across the entire value chain, clear climate targets, and a concrete roadmap with governance structures and milestones. The targets must be supported by an implementation plan outlining the actions and investments required over time.
  
  
• Prioritise energy efficiency that meets both regulatory requirements and profitability
  Property owners face rising energy costs, upcoming EPBD requirements, and the challenge of prioritising the right energy efficiency measures. Often, there is a limited clarity around current energy performance and the impact of different interventions.
  
  To address this, property owners need to map the energy performance of their portfolios and prioritise energy efficiency initiatives that deliver the greatest impact in line with set objectives. This requires a structured approach where energy work is divided into strategic investments in energy projects and continuous energy optimisation.
  
  
• Use reliable data as a foundation for governance and performance monitoring
  Effective governance and follow-up require high-quality, comparable data. Property owners need to invest in tools and strategies for measurement, data collection and data structuring that support analysis, decision-making and reporting. These requirements should also be integrated into procurement processes and supplier expectations.
  
  
• Integrate climate risks into value and investment decisions
  Property owners need to identify and prioritise climate-related risks within their property portfolios to future-proof asset values and enable compliance with the EU Taxonomy, as well as access to financing and insurance. Through scenario-based analyses and targeted measures, climate risks can be integrated into investment and asset management decisions — reducing exposure and strengthening long-term property value.
  
  
• Use transparency as a competitive advantage
  With regulatory requirements such as CSRD, the EU Taxonomy and EPBD, alongside voluntary reporting standards such as GRESB, as well as initiatives like SBTi, many property owners face increasing demands for structure, comparability and verifiability. Many also find it challenging to collect the right data, interpret regulations and standards, and report in a way that meets investor and stakeholder expectations. By integrating reporting into day-to-day asset and property management, sustainability work becomes more efficient and value-creating.