Kai·April 13, 2025

As we move into 2025, commercial and industrial energy efficiency is changing quickly. Multisite companies face new challenges and opportunities. Understanding these trends is key to reducing costs and meeting sustainability goals. [Emergent Metering helps companies navigate this landscape.

Here are the top energy efficiency trends for multisite companies in 2025:

1. Building Performance Standards Go Mainstream

Building Performance Standards (BPS) are a major regulatory trend. Over 45 U.S. jurisdictions have adopted BPS policies by early 2025. This is a big increase from just five years ago.

What does this mean for multisite companies?

Multisite companies face complex compliance. A company with buildings in different cities may see unique BPS rules. Each area can have different metrics, deadlines, and penalties.

• New York City's Local Law 97: This law sets carbon emission limits. Penalties are $268 per metric ton of CO2 equivalent. The 2030-2034 limits will impact most buildings.
• Boston's BERDO 2.0: Requires net-zero emissions by 2050 for covered buildings. Interim targets are set every five years. Missed targets need an Alternative Compliance Mechanism. This often means buying renewable energy or carbon offsets.
• Washington D.C.'s BEPS: Requires buildings to meet ENERGY STAR score standards. Performance targets increase over time.
• Colorado's statewide BPS: This is one of the first state-level BPS programs. It covers commercial buildings over 50,000 square feet.

Why is this important?

Energy performance is now a regulatory issue. It carries significant financial risk. Companies need centralized energy management systems. These systems track performance across all properties. They also identify buildings at risk of non-compliance.

2. Electrification Accelerates

Building electrification is growing in 2025. This means replacing fossil fuel systems with electric ones. Regulations, technology, and economic factors drive this trend.

What is driving electrification?

• Regulatory mandates: Many places ban natural gas in new construction. Examples include New York City and Seattle.
• Technology improvements: Heat pump systems are now much better. Cold-climate heat pumps work well even at -15°F. Newer heat pump water heaters and cooking equipment are also improving.

What does electrification mean for energy monitoring?

Electrification changes how companies use energy. Buildings switching from gas to electric heat will have different electrical loads. They will also have different demand patterns and utility costs. Monitoring systems must track these changes. They help optimize new electric systems. Emergent Metering offers solutions for this.

3. Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings (GEBs)

Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings (GEBs) are becoming more important. The grid faces challenges from more renewable energy. GEBs adjust their energy use based on grid needs. This helps grid reliability. It also allows more renewable energy integration.

What are key GEB strategies?

• Thermal energy storage: Uses a building's mass to shift cooling loads. This moves usage to off-peak hours.
• Battery energy storage: Stores electricity when prices are low. Releases it when prices are high.
• Smart electric vehicle charging: Manages EV charging. Avoids peak demand times.
• Dynamic controls: Adjusts lighting and plug loads automatically.

How do GEBs benefit multisite companies?

GEB strategies create potential revenue. This includes demand response programs. It also covers time-of-use rate optimization. However, sophisticated energy monitoring is essential. Systems need to respond to real-time grid signals.

4. AI-Powered Energy Management

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are changing energy management. AI platforms analyze large amounts of data. They find patterns, predict use, and detect faults. This optimizes operations beyond human ability.

What are AI applications in energy management?

• Predictive maintenance: Uses equipment data to foresee failures.
• Automated fault detection: Finds operational faults. Recommends fixes.
• Optimal control: Adjusts settings based on forecasts and rates.
• Portfolio benchmarking: Compares building performance. Identifies outliers.

Why is data crucial for AI?

AI helps manage large portfolios efficiently. A central team can use AI to optimize many buildings. This focuses human effort on major opportunities. However, AI needs good data. Buildings require comprehensive metering infrastructure. This provides the granular, real-time data AI algorithms need.

5. Embodied Carbon Enters the Conversation

Operational energy has been the main focus. Now, embodied carbon is gaining attention. This refers to emissions from building materials and construction.

What are the implications for multisite companies?

Some areas have whole-life carbon policies. These consider both operational and embodied carbon. "Buy Clean" policies set carbon limits for materials. This affects renovation and retrofit decisions. Companies must consider embodied carbon when upgrading.

6. Renewable Energy Integration

On-site renewable energy is growing. Rooftop solar helps commercial buildings. The Investment Tax Credit supports this. Equipment costs are also falling.

How does this impact monitoring?

Solar installations reduce energy costs. They also hedge against rate hikes. Integrating on-site generation needs good monitoring. Systems must track generation, use, and grid interaction. Net metering policies, which credit excess generation, are constantly changing.

7. Water-Energy Nexus

The link between water and energy use is critical. This is especially true in water-stressed areas. Cooling towers and other systems use much water and energy. Optimizing them needs integrated monitoring.

Multisite companies should integrate water metering with energy metering. This finds chances for both water and energy savings. Technologies like air-cooled chillers help reduce both resources.

8. Supply Chain Sustainability Reporting

New SEC climate rules require companies to report greenhouse gas emissions. This includes emissions from buildings. Similar rules exist in the EU.

Why is energy data now a financial requirement?

Building energy data is now a reporting requirement. Companies need robust, auditable energy data systems. These systems must support sustainability reporting. The rigor should match financial reporting.

Strategic Recommendations for Multisite Companies

These trends show key priorities for 2025:

• Invest in comprehensive metering: Ensure all buildings have whole-building metering. Implement system-level submetering for major uses. This data is the foundation.
• Centralize energy management: Use a central platform. This aggregates data and enables portfolio analysis. It also supports reporting across different areas.
• Develop a BPS compliance strategy: Map your portfolio against BPS rules. Identify buildings at risk. Prioritize efficiency investments.
• Evaluate electrification opportunities: Assess each building's electrification potential. Consider local rules and utility rates.
• Explore GEB and demand flexibility: Look at revenue potential from demand response. Optimize time-of-use rates.

Emergent Metering helps companies with these changes. Our monitoring solutions and analytics platforms provide essential data. They optimize operations and ensure compliance.

How to Act on These Trends in 2025

Understanding trends is good. Acting on them gives companies an edge. Here's how multisite companies can capitalize on these trends.

1. Audit your current monitoring coverage.

   • How many sites have circuit-level energy monitoring?
   • How many just use utility bills?
   • This gap shows where you can save. Least-monitored sites are often least efficient.

2. Prioritize sites by energy spend and savings potential.

   • Rank locations by annual energy cost.
   • Rank by energy use intensity (kWh per square foot).
   • Sites with high costs and intensity offer the best return. Start there.

3. Standardize your monitoring platform.

   • Choose one platform for all locations.
   • Standardization allows cross-site benchmarking.
   • It creates centralized alerts and portfolio reporting. This drives improvement.

4. Connect energy data to business metrics.

   • Energy use per unit of production is a business metric.
   • This gets attention from executives.
   • Effective energy managers translate kWh into business language.

5. Build the business case around compound returns.

   • Energy savings alone justify monitoring.
   • The full business case is much stronger.
   • This includes savings, demand charge reduction, and ESG readiness.
   • Present the full value, not just utility bill reductions.

Companies that lead in energy efficiency](https://kwmetering.com) build monitoring infrastructure today. Without circuit-level visibility, waste and missed opportunities continue.

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About Emergent Metering Solutions

Emergent Metering Solutions provides commercial and industrial metering hardware, installation support, and energy analytics services. We specialize in electric meters, water meters, BTU meters, compressed air meters, gas meters, and steam meters with Modbus RTU, BACnet IP, pulse output, and wireless communication options. Our Managed Intelligence services deliver automated reporting, anomaly detection, tenant billing, and AI-powered consumption forecasting. We support compliance with IECC 2021, ASHRAE 90.1-2022, NYC Local Law 97, Boston BERDO 2.0, DC BEPS, California LCFS, and EU CSRD requirements.

Contact our engineering team for meter selection guidance, system design, and project quotes.