Powering operational excellence

Market dynamics, power concerns, cost pressures and looming carbon reduction targets are pushing energy management and resilience to the forefront of leasing decisions in the industrial & logistics sector.

• Occupiers are prioritizing energy-smart buildings to drive operational excellence and cost efficiencies, impelled by concerns over power availability and surging energy prices in recent years.
• The sector faces heightened operational security threats from climate risk due to complex operations and a greater presence in areas more vulnerable to extreme weather events.
• Two-thirds of top industrial & logistics occupiers have commitments to reduce emissions, primarily through energy upgrades, fleet electrification and clean energy procurement.
• As inventory ages rapidly – with 76% of industrial stock over a decade old in the U.S., and 69% in Europe – retrofitting buildings emerges as a crucial strategy for owners to mitigate obsolescence risk, attract top tenants and enhance value.

After several years of unprecedented growth, owners, investors and occupiers are strategically reassessing assets and location strategies ahead of the next market cycle. At the same time, power availability and security are emerging as top priorities for many occupiers in the sector. Increased automation, fleet electrification, the surge in advanced manufacturing, and competition with data centers for limited energy resources are collectively reshaping market dynamics. Occupiers are prioritizing cost efficiencies and seeking innovative ways to elevate business practices, and owners are pre-emptively evaluating methods to remain competitive. At the nexus of this market shift are increasingly complex energy markets paired with growing pressures to materialize on carbon reduction goals.

Occupiers have typically focused on technical requirements (e.g., ceiling height, loading docks, etc.), but as they prioritize operational excellence, requirements are becoming increasingly specific and standard warehouses are no longer fit-for-purpose. Spaces that deliver broader solutions, especially around energy management, resilience and broader sustainability, will gain competitive advantage in the coming years.

Additionally, advanced manufacturing - the use of innovative technology to improve products or processes – is a rapidly growing segment in the industrial sector. Companies involved in battery, electric vehicles (EVs), renewables and climate tech are emerging as significant drivers of this growth and are especially hungry for spaces that align with their core business of sustainability and decarbonization.

Building owners willing to leverage sustainability could capitalize on this shifting demand to create economic value, while keeping up with tightening regulations and evolving stakeholder expectations. A strategic pivot towards energy management, sustainable building practices and comprehensive tenant engagement can transform leasing dynamics, ensuring that industrial spaces are fit for the future.

Action to decarbonize real estate is lagging significantly and, despite improvements in energy efficiency in some sectors, emissions from buildings remain high and are still in fact rising. The industrial sector itself has especially lagged in decarbonization and energy efficiency improvements and, without increased levels of retrofitting, owners will face acute challenges to meet the increasing demand for sustainable space. Across the 18 hubs researched in this study, 41% of projected demand for low carbon space will not be met by 2030, given the current quality of existing stock and construction estimates over the remainder of the decade. This study only considers the largest occupiers, representing 30% of leased area across the markets covered; it inherently underestimates the total demand for low carbon assets - the broader market for such assets is far greater.

Supply-demand dynamics vary across industrial markets. More calibrated markets, like the UK and Sydney, show greater alignment between owners and tenants on decarbonization efforts, driven by regulatory pressures and carbon commitments. In these markets, owners who neglect carbon performance risk facing a ‘brown discount’ and greater challenges relating to liquidity when it comes to selling their properties. Conversely, imbalanced markets, such as Chicago and Belgium, characterized by energy-intensive outdated stock and limited clean energy availability, present unique challenges. For owners in these markets, acting promptly to improve a building’s energy performance can position them as market-leaders, enabling them to secure high-quality tenants and ensuring tenants don’t opt for other locations like build-to-suit sites.

The industrial sector is uniquely positioned to scale energy and sustainability solutions that can drive real progress in decarbonizing the built environment, as well as operational security and economic value for both owners and occupiers.

Delivering energy solutions

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Delivering resilience

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Protecting value

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Global energy demand is rising more rapidly than anticipated, raising significant concerns about energy security and pricing for businesses and people worldwide. Access to adequate power is already the top concern for many industrial occupiers as an increasing number of companies require high-capacity energy solutions. Moreover, energy prices have surged in recent years. Over the last five years, they have increased by 29% in the U.S., 71% across the European Union and 54% in the UK; while in Australia, year-over-year energy prices increased by 25% in 20241. In contrast to other asset types, industrial users are more vulnerable to fluctuations in energy costs due to their transportation-dependant and/or energy-intensive operations. As a result, many are turning to the spaces they use for solutions.

Given complex supply chains and operations as well as a greater presence in areas more vulnerable to extreme weather events, a warming climate presents acute challenges for the industrial & logistics sector. For example, across the U.S., 69% of industrial inventory sits in the top 10 markets most exposed to climate risk, compared to 57% for offices. In Europe, 49% of industrial inventory lies in the region’s 10 most exposed markets, compared to 42% for offices. Occupiers in this sector will increasingly look for properties that ensure business continuity and employee safety through enhanced physical resilience and onsite energy solutions.

Considering the increasing regulatory focus on energy and carbon, sustainable warehouses enable owners and occupiers to stay ahead of compliance requirements. Whether it's the evolving building performance standards adopted by 13 U.S. cities, with 30 more expected by 2026, or the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) with first reports due this year, warehouses that demonstrate enhanced energy and emissions performance will remain resilient against new regulations.

It is also notable that sustainable practices in the sector influence more than solely environmental factors. For example, the warehouse industry experiences significantly higher employee turnover rates. Investing in sustainable building features that improve ventilation and indoor air quality, offer access to green spaces and comfortable temperatures and work environments can enhance employee retention for occupiers.

Navigating solutions

Implications for building owners and occupiers

Owners:

• Volatile energy markets present opportunities for owners to insulate tenants from rising costs as well as offer secure energy. Industrial spaces are uniquely equipped to provide such benefits.
• Owners and investors willing to innovate with sustainability can leverage changing market dynamics to position their properties as solutions-driven assets. Collaboration with tenants in energy and decarbonization efforts is crucial.
• Owners and investors who act quickly to upgrade assets and communicate measurable improvements in energy and carbon performance will thrive in the evolving landscape.

Occupiers:

• Industrial users are increasingly driven by power concerns as well as the need to translate sustainability commitments into tangible progress.
• Demand is moving from purely functional design requirements to spaces that can offer comprehensive solutions – especially regarding energy security, operational cost efficiencies and fleet electrification. But occupiers should be prepared to partner with owners to achieve such solutions.
• Beyond energy and environmental commitments, sustainable spaces can also enhance working conditions, (e.g., through elements that improve natural lighting, thermal comfort, indoor air quality and access to green space) significantly boosting employee retention.

True now more than ever, sustainability is integral to business fundamentals, driving a transformative shift that addresses some of today's most complex challenges. Industrial buildings present significant opportunities for both owners and occupiers to achieve sustainability goals and operational excellence. With advances in new technologies, increased automation and the electrification of transport, industrial properties are becoming active agents in daily operations. They can facilitate cost savings, offer secure energy, shield users from volatile energy markets, ensure compliance with evolving regulations and propel progress on sustainability commitments.

^{1Note, historical data extending a longer timespan was not accessible for the Australian market. Annual comparisons where attained here.
2Energy Use Intensity (EUI): a building's energy use as a function of its size (e.g., kBtu per sqft)
3Embodied carbon: the emissions generated during the construction of a building, as a function of its size (e.g., kgCO2/sqft)}