The RICS 2025 Sustainability Report shows demand for sustainable buildings is slowing. High costs, uncertain payback, and limited carbon tracking are slowing projects, with nearly half of construction professionals not measuring carbon.
Experts at Exergio say stalled demand, unclear financial value, and weak follow-through are major barriers. Donatas Karčiauskas, Exergio CEO, says AI can help buildings meet climate and performance targets by optimizing operations automatically.
Global demand for sustainable buildings dropped from 41% to 30%. Investors and developers cite uncertain ROI and payback periods as the main obstacles. Meanwhile, occupiers prioritize performance and energy efficiency, while investors focus on certification and resilience, creating a gap in expectations.
The report shows measurement and expertise gaps: only 16% of carbon assessments affect design, and just 10% of professionals are familiar with whole-life carbon methods. AI can fill these gaps, gathering and analyzing building data at scale to improve efficiency and performance.
