Smart Tech For Building Retrofits: What Are The Viable Strategies?

08 Feb, 2018

Access this research

Access all Building Digital Platforms & Operational Tech content with a strategic subscription or buy this single report

Need help or have a question about this report? Contact us for assistance

Executive Summary

This report helps facility managers and building technology vendors understand the viable strategies to increase the performance of existing buildings. With over 80% of buildings in many developed countries now over 25 years of age, building owners, tenants and investors look to better understand how to make their existing buildings more efficient and engaging for occupants. Based on our recent research into the evolving visions and technology ecosystem for future smart buildings, this report outlines the critical questions that building managers must answer when identifying suitable retrofit strategies. The report identifies the six promising strategies and associated technologies to make existing buildings more efficient and engaging for occupants. The options reviewed in this report include both zero-capital approaches, which are based upon analysing existing building data to identify any inefficiency, and those that analyse very granular facility data to inform strategies such as better fault detection and predictive maintenance.
Smart Tech For Building Retrofits: What Are The Viable Strategies?
The Building Retrofit Puzzle: How To Find Projects That Deliver Sufficient Efficiency And Worker Productivity Benefits   
Five Decision Points For Building Managers When Selecting Smart Building Tech For Retrofits 
Six Viable Strategies To Smarten Up Existing Buildings

Figure 1. Four Commercial Models For Investing In Building Retrofits
Figure 2. Decision Tree: How To Find The Right Building Retrofit Strategy

About the Author

Susan Clarke

Susan Clarke

Research Director

Susan leads the Verdantix Smart Buildings practice. Her current research agenda focuses on software solutions for real estate management including integrated workplace managem...

Other related content

Blog
AEC
Connecting The Built And Natural Worlds...

At the 2025 Year in Infrastructure (YII) conference in Amsterdam, Bentley Systems (Bentley) showcased how its ongoing investments in digital engineering and infrastructure lifecycl...

10 November, 2025

Webinar
AI Platforms & Applications
AI In The Enterprise: 2026 Priorities &...

As the initial hype around enterprise AI gives way to practical realities, organizations are adopting a more measured and value-driven approach to AI investments. But for those tas...

Upcoming / 03 December, 2025

Industry Events
Building Digital Platforms & Operational Tech
Industry Webinar // The Sustainable Fin...

The Sustainable Finance & Investing Forum on November 3-4, 2025 will take place alongside the Greenbuild International Conference + Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Thi...

03 November, 2025

Blog
Real Estate, Facilities & Workplace Tech
From Floorplans To Forecasts: The Next ...

The workplace technology stack is evolving quickly. While tools like IWMS or CPIP were designed as systems of record — tracking leases, floorplans and assets – today’s office tenan...

20 October, 2025

Blog
AEC
Real Estate Battle Royale: How Gaming E...

Entertainment technology is changing the game for the real estate sector, turning a once stagnant landscape into a battleground of digital innovation. Although the overlap between ...

13 October, 2025

Blog
Building Digital Platforms & Operational Tech
Inside OpenAI’s $1 Trillion Compute Bet...

When OpenAI announced plans to deploy six gigawatts of AMD chips, the market focused on semiconductors. In truth, this is an energy and infrastructure story. The power required for...

13 October, 2025