Efficiency Meets Sustainability: Success Stories Revitalising the UK Commercial Property Sector

Sustainability is no longer just a tick-box exercise for those of us working in the UK commercial property world. It has become an essential priority, influencing everything from compliance to who chooses to rent, invest, or work with us. More and more people want to know how are we looking after the planet and our communities, not just our bottom line? 

This is where IBM Envizi comes in. Imagine trying to keep track of every energy bill, greenhouse gas assessment, and sustainability target across a complicated network of properties, assets, and teams. Now imagine having all that information in one place, automatically updated, instantly accessible, and actually useful for making better decisions. That’s the power many property and facilities teams are discovering thanks to IBM Envizi. 

Here are some stories of how organisation Celestica and GPT Group have used Envizi to drive real change. You’ll recognise some of their initial challenges, disjointed data, time-consuming manual processes, and reporting headaches, but you’ll also see how transformation is possible. 

GPT Group’s Long-Term Cost and Energy Savings  

Managing 120 assets is no small feat, and for GPT Group, it meant serious challenges, disconnected systems, manual workarounds, and spiralling costs. Where to start? 

They began with consolidating all their energy and sustainability data using Envizi. What happened next is impressive: over ten years, they reduced their buildings’ energy intensity by more than half, saved 20 million US dollars a year on energy and water, and cut their carbon emissions by 82%. These aren’t just numbers: they represent less waste, more value, and a healthier planet. 

Steve Ford, GPT’s Head of Sustainability, explained that reliable, real-time data from Envizi was crucial. “With the entire portfolio benchmarks visible from a single interface, unexpected data gaps became a thing of the past. Envizi lets us focus on forward-thinking projects rather than reactively managing inefficiencies.”  

Ford credited Envizi with enabling high-level strategic procurement decisions, resulting in millions of dollars in additional energy savings beyond operational improvements.  

Celestica’s Global Energy Transformation  

Celestica operates across more than 15 countries, with facilities all over the globe. Before Envizi, they grappled with the classic pitfalls: errors in manual data entry, inconsistent benchmarks, and slow decision-making. There was ambition to reduce emissions, but the tools just weren’t helping. 

By centralising sustainability data with Envizi, and automating key processes, they’ve turned those ambitions into reality. They set meaningful targets, like cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2025, and for the first time, everyone could see progress in real time. No more data debates—just focused work towards real goals. 

Here’s what Envizi achieved for Celestica at scale:  

  • Reduced manual errors by leveraging automation in emissions calculations, saving substantial labour hours.  
  • Set quantified targets, including a Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emission reduction of 30% by 2025, using a 2018 baseline.  
  • Elevated data consistency organisation-wide, turning their sustainability reports into “finance-grade” assets.  

Jessica Peixoto, Sustainability Manager at Celestica, noted, “Envizi has taken us from spreadsheets to actionable data insights, allowing us to act decisively on emission trends rather than just report on them.”  

What Brings These Stories Together? 

So, what’s the common thread? These organisations have moved beyond firefighting and tick-box reporting. By adopting Envizi, they’ve: 

  • Freed up valuable staff time, switching from repetitive data entry to actual problem-solving. 
  • Gained clear, actionable insights, making it easier to invest in the right efficiency projects and renewables. 
  • Simplified audits and compliance, knowing that the right data is just a click away, whatever standard or framework comes next. 
  • Made clear progress towards net-zero, with trusted data supporting every claim and investment decision. 

Let’s be honest: the pressures on UK commercial property are mounting. Whether it’s new sustainability rules, carbon reduction targets, or tenants expecting more, it can feel overwhelming. But these stories show there is a path forward, one that’s open to anyone ready to invest in the right tools and approach. 

Making the change to modern ESG data management doesn’t just mean fewer headaches. It means building trust, unlocking new value, and delivering on your promises—to the planet, your clients, and your communities. 

If these organisations can do it, why not yours? With the right insights and support, real progress is well within reach.  Contact us today to discover more.