Building Energy Consumption Rose Despite Carbon Declines
Facility managers and office operators face rising energy demands as grid cleaner-energy shifts attempt to offset usage.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Remote Work
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The 2026 Deepki Index revealed that European building energy consumption increased by 5 percent between 2021 and 2025, reaching 165 kWh/m². Despite this consumption growth, building-related carbon emissions fell by 7 percent over the same period.
Why it matters
While a cleaner electricity grid has driven a 12 percent drop in carbon intensity since 2023, operators face significant cost pressures as actual energy usage continues to climb. The divergence between falling carbon outputs and rising energy intensity highlights a mounting efficiency challenge for commercial real estate.
Energy consumption rose from 156 kWh/m² in 2021 to 165 kWh/m² in 2025, even as carbon emissions fell 7 percent. US offices remain notably less efficient than European peers, consuming 26 percent more energy and emitting 94 percent more CO2.
The players
Deepki
A data analytics firm specializing in tracking energy consumption and sustainability performance for large-scale commercial real estate portfolios.
The details
The Deepki Index tracks actual energy consumption data across thousands of properties to measure the real-world impact of decarbonization. While the transition to a cleaner power grid has effectively lowered carbon outputs, the raw energy intensity of buildings—specifically in regions like the United Kingdom, which averages 205 kWh/m²—remains an operational hurdle. Owners must distinguish between reduced grid-based carbon intensity and the physical energy footprint of their assets.
Timeline
2021 marked the baseline year for tracking energy consumption and carbon emissions.
2023 to 2025 served as the window for comparing declines in energy consumption and carbon intensity.
2025 concluded the data tracking period for the latest energy consumption figures.
2026 saw the official publication of the latest Deepki Index.
Market Landscape
The findings update industry benchmarks established by prior Deepki Index reports, which track the efficacy of decarbonization strategies against rising energy demand. This data confirms that grid-level improvements are currently outpacing individual building-level efficiency gains.
Operators should review their facility energy intensity against the 165 kWh/m² global benchmark to assess their competitive energy efficiency. With grid intensity falling, focus on reducing raw consumption to protect margins as energy-intensive assets face potential future utility cost volatility.
The takeaway
The gap between grid-assisted carbon reductions and rising consumption indicates that building-level efficiency is not yet keeping pace with operational demands. Monitor your assets' kWh/m² annually to ensure your facility's performance isn't being masked by broader, grid-wide decarbonization.
Further reading
For broader trends on office utilization and facility efficiency, see Remote Work.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Renewable Energy Magazine, at the heart of clean energy journalism.
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Is improving building energy efficiency more important than simply relying on a cleaner electricity grid?
