Stakeholder engagement in energy data collection: a case study on the implication of landlords and tenants to comply with the French obligation to reduce final energy consumption

Abstract

Reducing the energy consumption in the tertiary sector is an objective towards net-zero carbon cities In this regard, governments have set ambitious legislation to drive the real estate actors to renovate their building stock. In 2019, a French decree on the obligation to reduce final energy consumption in service sector buildings requires both landlords and tenants to implement actions to reduce energy consumption by 40% by 2030. As there is shared responsibility on the management and use of the building, a strong collaboration between landlords and tenants is necessary to achieve these energy objectives. This paper analyses a stakeholder engagement process between landlords and tenants to respond to the decree, as the two actors have access to different energy data, ways to collect it, and responsibilities to comply. The engagement process aims to increase the response rate for energy data collection. Based on a communication plan that targeted the landlords and tenants of over 1000 buildings (approximately 8 million m2), a difference in response rate between the different typology of users (single and multi-tenants’ assets) was observed. The results highlight the challenge to get stakeholders on board, fully understand their role and responsibilities and the need for continuous engagement between the parties. Nevertheless, it was observed than an appropriate communication and awareness raising campaign can increase the data collection response rates by 80%.