The world is grappling with the increasingly apparent impact of climate change. Escalating resource scarcity and increasingly severe weather events make the need to decarbonise more pressing than ever. Buildings are responsible for a staggering 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the acceleration of net-zero efforts in the built environment sector is of particular importance. If the sector is to meet rapidly approaching net zero targets it must undertake a significant transformation before the window for meaningful action closes.
Digital twin technology is emerging as a pivotal tool to aid this transformation in the built environment sector. This technology is more than just a virtual representation of a building. True performance-based digital twins can integrate real-time data with advanced physics-based simulations. This supports data-driven decisions that optimise energy performance, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance operational efficiency. By accessing and redeploying a building’s existing compliance energy model, the technology can be implemented at any stage of a building’s lifecycle, meaning even long-standing structures can be retrofitted strategically to accelerate progress towards net zero.
The digital twin advantage: data-driven decarbonisation
The built environment’s role in climate change is undeniable, but the scale of the challenge is immense. Around 80% of today’s buildings will still exist in 2050, making retrofitting just as crucial as designing sustainable new constructions. However, many current approaches to decarbonisation lack precision. Ultimately, they rely on estimates and good intentions rather than meaningful performance data and actionable insight.
Digital twins bridge this gap by enabling a whole-life approach to building optimisation. By continuously monitoring and simulating operational scenarios, they allow property owners and managers to identify inefficiencies, adjust systems in real-time, and predict future energy needs. This makes them invaluable for net-zero strategies, ensuring buildings meet performance targets without costly, reactive interventions. In turn, this can translate to reduced financial risk, enhanced asset value, and long-term regulatory compliance.
A good example was Dublin City Council’s efforts to decarbonise its building stock. The Council used IES’s digital twin technology to simulate various retrofit measures. These included HVAC upgrades, improved insulation, and renewable energy integration. The results indicated that a deep retrofit strategy would have an 85% cumulative reduction in carbon emissions over 60 years. By leveraging digital modelling to test different retrofit scenarios before implementation, Dublin City Council could avoid unnecessary costs, support long-term sustainability, and enhance the resilience of its public buildings.
Regulatory compliance and climate resilience
As we discussed in our recent report, 30 Years of Climate Hurt, in the past few decades, building regulations have evolved from basic conservation measures to stringent performance standards designed to address the climate crisis. Policies such as minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and net-zero mandates are reshaping how buildings are designed, operated, and managed.
In the UK, commercial landlords must now meet strict energy performance certificate (EPC) ratings or risk stranded assets. Digital twins can help future-proof portfolios by modelling different compliance scenarios and providing real-time insights on the most effective pathways to achieving energy efficiency and carbon reduction targets.
Beyond compliance, climate risk is becoming a major factor in asset valuation. Extreme weather events, rising energy costs, and shifting tenant expectations all point to a future where only highly efficient, resilient buildings will retain their value. Digital twins enable proactive climate adaptation strategies. They help stakeholders understand how buildings will respond to different environmental stresses. Most importantly, they help owners understand what interventions are required to maintain optimal conditions.
Although now more comprehensive, decades of sustainability initiatives in the built environment sector have not had maximal impact due to reactive decision-making and poor data integration. Digital twins offer a long-term solution, allowing building owners to predict and optimise energy use rather than relying on reactive, short-term fixes.
Enhancing occupant well-being
Sustainability is no longer just about reducing emissions – it’s also about creating healthier, more productive spaces for occupants. As hybrid working models redefine office and residential expectations, tenant experience is becoming a key differentiator. Poor indoor environmental quality, including issues such as poor air circulation, and excessive high or low temperatures, are significant factors that building owners must consider.
Digital twins have the ability to optimise air quality, lighting, and thermal comfort. They can simulate different ventilation strategies and energy-efficient climate control systems. In doing so, they ensure that buildings are not only sustainable but also comfortable, healthy, and fit for purpose. A more intelligent approach to building performance means companies can deliver workplaces that meet the evolving needs of employees while reducing energy waste and operational costs.
A technology-driven future for our buildings
In a world where we’re seeing rising investor scrutiny on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, energy price volatility, and the impacts of climate change brought to life, digital twins can provide a vital tool for mitigating financial and environmental risk to buildings.
As the sector moves towards a net-zero future, those who embrace digital twin technology will gain a competitive advantage – not only when it comes to sustainability, but in resilience, operational excellence, and occupant well-being. Building professionals must utilise the technology available and fast-track the built environment’s route to net zero.
- Digital Strategy
- Sustainability Technology