You've implemented energy-saving solutions but still have net zero targets to reach — so what's next?
With technologies and sustainability regulations evolving at a rapid pace, it's harder than ever to keep up with the latest developments.
To help you out, measurable.energy has collated seven of the most impactful trends that will drive energy efficiency in commercial buildings in 2025 and beyond, including:
Plus, we've analysed the importance of energy management innovation within commercial real estate in achieving sustainability goals, complying with regulatory changes, and meeting the needs of day-to-day office users.
Let's get into it…
First, let's consider why more sophisticated, efficient energy management is so essential for commercial buildings:
Still, high costs — or, at least, the perception of high costs — continue to hold back many key decision-makers from making energy-efficient investments.
But these improvements don't have to break the bank. Plus, they pay for themselves in as little as 12 months, making them a viable option for businesses of all sizes.
The energy management sector's pace of innovation shows no signs of slowing down over the next 25 years.The drivers? A combination of cutting-edge technologies, increased access to diverse energy suppliers, and the growing urgency to address climate change.
AI, machine learning, and IoT-enabled devices have revolutionised how we monitor and optimise energy usage over the past decade. Simultaneously, shifting global energy dynamics and regulatory pressures have added layers of complexity, making it critical for businesses to adapt from legacy energy management practices in 2025, if they have not done so already.
With an influx of smart building technologies hitting the market — spanning lighting, heating, ventilation, security, and beyond — sustainability directors and facilities managers face the challenge of navigating a crowded and fast-moving landscape of energy management innovation.
So, how can businesses harness new trends to stay ahead, innovate, and drive their net zero goals?
Here are our top energy management innovations and technologies to have on your radar and integrate into your business strategy.These practical solutions can strengthen your energy management plans and help you take the lead in managing energy sustainably.
Let’s explore the seven key trends shaping energy management in 2025.
Predictive analytics are becoming increasingly important in many facets of business — and energy management is no different.
Smart buildings use predictive analytics technology to forecast upcoming energy requirements based on a combination of real-time data and historical usage.
This allows energy consumption to be adjusted based on demand, helping to reduce energy wastage at "off-peak" times when occupancy and/or usage is low.
Some predictive analytics products also allow you to compare energy usage with similar users.
This sort of data-backed benchmarking can be invaluable in understanding your potential for reducing energy consumption.
Predictive analytics is transforming energy management.
In modern energy systems, predictive analytics technology forecasts upcoming energy requirements by analysing real-time usage data and usage patterns. This allows buildings and facilities to optimise energy consumption dynamically, reducing wastage during off-peak times when demand is lower.
It’s clear that AI will continue to enhance the potential of predictive analytics to make buildings even more energy-efficient. By combining predictive analytics with AI, smart systems can fine-tune energy usage, further minimising waste and improving efficiency.
Predictive analytics also benchmarks energy performance against similar users, helping identify inefficiencies and drive improvements for better sustainability. As these technologies evolve, they will be crucial in achieving more efficient, responsible energy use across industries.
Approximately 40% of energy used in a typical commercial building comes from plug power — the electricity required to power devices and appliances like laptops, heaters, and zip taps.
And guess what? Half of that energy is completely wasted.
AI-powered smart sockets offer a powerful solution for reducing energy consumption, carbon emissions, and operational costs. By using AI and machine learning, these sockets can detect connected devices and determine the best times to automatically switch them on and off, ensuring energy is used more efficiently.
Implementing AI-driven smart sockets can lead to significant reductions in energy waste, contributing to both environmental sustainability and cost savings.
👉 Read more: Unplug the drain: How much energy are you wasting?
As well as switching off devices at times of low usage, smart building technology has a key role to play in managing energy consumption during periods of peak demand.
For example, smart buildings can shut down non-essential energy usage at these times. Not only does this help businesses save money on peak energy charges, but it also reduces strain on the energy grid.
Sensors connected to building energy management systems via the Internet of Things (IoT) are capable of monitoring a wide range of energy usage-related factors, such as:
Because they transmit data in real time, IoT-enabled sensors allow AI-powered systems to make instant decisions to optimise and reduce energy usage — thereby helping businesses cut their operational costs and meet their sustainability goals.
Sustainability directors and facilities managers can also tap into this data to support and inform their energy management strategies.
We know HVAC is more of a standard than a trend.
But with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning accounting for approximately half of total energy consumed in commercial buildings to fulfil end-user requirements, it remains a key focus for sustainability decision-makers.
Smart buildings and AI can help here. For example, artificial intelligence can lower heating or cooling in empty rooms, providing a quick and easy way to save money and cut energy consumption.
They can also reduce wastage by automatically adjusting building temperatures in response to external climate conditions, mitigating the need for busy humans to do it themselves.
The negative weighting attached to gas power in EPC ratings assessments has prompted many landlords to remove gas during development and refurbishment projects where budgets permit.
In particular, rooftop solar has become an increasingly popular option for all-electric developments, and we expect to see this trend growing in 2025 and beyond.
As well as spending money on energy-efficient technologies, an increasing number of organisations are investing in learning and development (L&D) initiatives in areas like sustainability strategy and carbon reporting.
This will be a growing focus for businesses of all sizes as they strive to understand and report on their scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions to retain clients and win new business.
Unsurprisingly, many of commercial real estate's biggest energy efficiency trends rely on artificial intelligence to save energy by adapting to occupants' needs in real-time.
While there have been plenty of negative headlines around the technology's impact on power grids worldwide, AI energy management has a vital role in transforming how we use energy in commercial properties.
Research published in the journal Nature Communications, focusing on medium-sized office buildings in the US, claimed that AI could reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption by 8% – 19% in 2050.
What's more, it predicted that by the same year, the combination of AI, low-carbon energy generation, and energy policy could reduce energy consumption by 40% and carbon emissions by 90% compared to business-as-usual scenarios.
All of this means there's plenty of reason to feel positive about the future of energy management in commercial real estate— provided we act now and invest in the right technologies to support our energy-saving goals.