The mid-box and multi-let market still need to talk about energy and data 

Greenlight – our urban logistics strategy – creates high quality and sustainable product for occupiers. We are currently onsite across four sites busy delivering. Milton Keynes is the latest scheme to complete unleashing 124,215 sq ft into the market and delivering another turnkey solution on 52,000 sq ft to a major local business. Our focus on delivery is shifting to performance and conversations about energy and data.

The use of statistics is well-known in corporate decision-making and such sports as baseball and cycling to improve performance, extracting both undervalued and hidden attributes to make both significant and marginal gains. But to know about the undervaluation they had to analyse data and the right kind of data.

Beyond construction, the in-use piece is part of our sustainability narrative and the sharing of energy data a key protagonist. We want to make sure the building is used as designed and to its potential. We know the capability of our buildings, but we can’t predict the occupier’s requirements, which is why we want to talk to them.

However, our tenant conversations aren’t always producing the optimum outcome. Published corporate commitments and messaging isn’t embraced by one and all.  Building certifications help businesses to choose more sustainable buildings, but they are badges that are unpinned for use.

What is the problem with sharing data in the logistics sector? Competitive sensitivity, control and risk are the usual excuses. None are convincing and should prevent landlord’s going direct to the data source.

Under time pressure, anything beyond the lightest shade of green drafting is quietly dropped in the lease negotiation. Direct access to smart meter data is seen as complex or useless, when a Letter of Authority enables automated, accurate transfer. The resistance is cultural rather than technical – a misplaced fear of losing control persists and the intrusion of interference.

Annual provision of scanned utility bills satisfies annual reporting, but delivers no insight, no engagement, and no route to improved performance. Our buildings’ attributes and energy efficient opportunities need to be conveyed on first viewing, the collaboration expectations visible on the heads of terms and explained to the operational teams.

Environmental performance clauses are not enforceable obligations, leaving tenants free to ignore the data they provide. The landlord’s opportunity – arguably a responsibility – is to use the data to make the commercial case for efficiency improvements. Where occupier fit‑outs already align with base‑build sustainability ambitions, intervention should be minimal. Where they do not, the resulting data will make that visible.

Our granular metering highlights exactly where energy is being consumed – across lighting, power, heating, ventilation and plant. This level of transparency supports cost reduction, informs capital investment decisions and strengthens corporate reporting. If tenants have the capability to interrogate and act on this data themselves, landlords can step back.

This leads on to the question of the landlord’s legitimate interest in energy data. GDPR quite rightly bites when personal data is involved, but in the commercial world the picture is more about market structure and risk than about privacy alone. Recent disputes around data provision have largely reflected the complexity of the UK energy market, with licensed intermediaries needing to respect cautious interpretations of GDPR from network operators and suppliers.

What the sector and wider real estate lacks is not technology, data, or legal mechanisms, but conviction. Until operational energy data is treated as essential infrastructure rather than a guarded asset, the markets will continue to talk about sustainability while leaving value, efficiency and carbon savings on the table.

We have the energy to keep asking undeterred by these headwinds. I don’t understand the suspicion over the sharing of energy consumption data, less suspicion now in its provision, but the currency of its acquisition direct from source. Direct data is actual consumption not estimated, a streamlined process and a less administrative provision route through the tenant or its advisers.

If you can tell me otherwise, then please reach out on LinkedIn.