Across the built environment, buildings consistently underperform once they are in use. Despite decades of regulation, certification, and technological progress, actual energy consumption remains significantly higher than expected. 

The scale of the problem 

On average, 20% to 40% of building-related energy consumption is wasted. Why? Because every building is essentially a prototype. A typical utility building consists of thousands of components such as doors, insulation, valves and ducts, assembled by hundreds of people across design, construction, and operation phases: architects, engineers, manufacturers, contractors, and maintenance teams. 

With so many variables, mistakes are inevitable. In practice, this leads for example to systems running overnight when buildings are empty, products underperforming compared to specifications, gaps in insulation, and incorrectly installed valves. These issues collectively cause massive energy overspend, and most of it goes unnoticed. Despite large investments in insulation, new systems and solar panels, many buildings continue to waste energy because core issues of quality and proper functioning are left unresolved. 

From theory to reality 

Globally, we need a step change: measure energy performance based on actual consumption, verified by energy bills. Some countries already lead the way with initiatives like NABERS (Australia, UK), CRREM and Paris Proof (Netherlands, UK). These certifications create real value: tenants pay a green premium for properties that meet these standards, and many organizations have committed to leasing only Paris Proof or NABERS certified buildings buildings. 

What is Paris Proof? 

Paris Proof is an initiative by the Dutch Green Building Council (DGBC) to align building energy use with the Paris Climate Agreement. It translates national 2050 energy reduction targets into building-level performance goals. A Paris Proof building already meets these targets today, operating in line with future requirements.  

The challenge for owners and developers 

Designing a Paris Proof building isn’t enough, it must perform in practice. This requires for example, accurate energy modeling, rigorous construction delivery, proper commissioning, continuous monitoring. Without this, buildings may meet targets on paper but fail to deliver in use.

When buildings fail to perform as intended, the additional investment and energy costs are ultimately paid by organisations themselves, both in the public and private sector. To support this, Arup has developed Paris Proof guidelines to help owners, developers, and investors achieve real outcomes, not just theoretical compliance. 

What the real estate sector must do next:

 

To meet Paris Agreement commitments, real estate worldwide must: 

  • Set energy goals based on outputs (actual consumption)
  • Align targets with Paris Proof standards
  • Secure broad organisational commitments
  • Develop practices and procedures that drive real performance 

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A guide to Paris Proof and WENG
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