The Climate and Resilience Act: What Are the Requirements for Real Estate Companies?

Enacted in 2021, the Climate and Resilience Act imposes new environmental requirements on businesses, particularly in the real estate sector.

April 02, 2024

Energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and compliance with new standards are becoming critical issues.

What are the practical implications for tenant and landlord businesses? An overview of the key requirements and ways to comply with them.

Buildings subject to energy performance targets

The French Climate and Resilience Act sets energy performance thresholds for commercial buildings. By 2030, energy consumption must be reduced by 40%, then by 50% in 2040 and by 60% in 2050. These targets apply to offices, retail outlets and public-access buildings over 1,000 m². Companies must therefore undertake energy renovation work or optimize their equipment management to meet these requirements.

Energy performance diagnosis (DPE) becomes a key criterion

The obligation to display an energy performance diagnosis has been extended to offices and commercial premises. A building rated F or G could become obsolete and difficult to rent in the long term. Landlords must anticipate these constraints by improving insulation, optimizing heating systems and integrating more energy-efficient equipment. For tenant companies, the choice of an energy-efficient office becomes a strategic issue to control costs and limit their environmental impact.

The green lease, a tool for engaging lessors and lessees

To facilitate the ecological transition of buildings, commercial leases are increasingly incorporating environmental clauses. These "green leases" commit lessors and lessees to working together to improve the property's energy performance. These commitments may include setting up actions to monitor consumption, sharing the costs of energy improvement work or adopting eco-responsible practices.

A lever for more sustainable real estate

Under the French Climate and Resilience Act, companies must integrate the energy transition into their real estate strategy. Between renovation, optimization of consumption and new rental practices, the obligations are numerous, but also offer opportunities to rethink workspaces in a more sustainable and efficient way.