T
he real estate industry has reached a maturity point where 80-85% data coverage is achievable, but now it's time to ask tough questions about what that data actually means. The focus is shifting from basic reporting to understanding the underlying dynamics of assets, according to Chris Pyke, Chief Innovation Officer at GRESB.

    At the Sustainable Real Estate Forum in New York City, industry leaders gathered to discuss the role of data in driving sustainable transformation. Jens Hirsch, Chief Scientific Officer at BuildingMinds, emphasized that collecting data is no longer the challenge - it's making it actionable for portfolio-level decision-making.

    A panel discussion on "Data-driven Decarbonization: Unlocking Value Across Real Estate & Infrastructure" brought together experts from Tishman Speyer, Schindler, GRESB, and EQT Real Estate. They shared insights on how smart data is becoming a strategic asset, retrofit innovation at scale, and the need to move beyond traditional energy use intensity metrics.

    EQT Real Estate showcased its progress in expanding data management capabilities through BuildingMinds' invoice processing technology, increasing US portfolio data coverage from 3% to 15-20%. This demonstrates the potential for comprehensive portfolio visibility across the industry.

    Key takeaways from the forum included:

    * Smart data is becoming fundamental to strategic decision-making, aligning operational excellence with decarbonization goals.

    * Retrofit innovation at scale can deliver enhanced experiences and measurable sustainability outcomes.

    * Benchmarking has evolved beyond compliance to become a powerful differentiation tool in capital markets.

    * Asset-level innovations translate into fund-level sustainability scores, reshaping entire real estate portfolios.

    The forum highlighted challenges in the industrial and logistics sector, where significant opportunities exist for impact at scale. EQT's portfolio experience provided real-world context for how the intersection of sustainability and operational efficiency creates unique challenges.

    Industry players demonstrated how technology and strategic partnerships are building low-carbon, future-ready portfolios that will define the next era of real estate excellence.