How an Industrial Landlord Flipped the Script from Asking for Utility Bills to Delivering Nearly $300,000 in Tenant Insights

‍The Challenge

Landlords of industrial portfolios are under increasing pressure to report energy data to regulators and sustainability frameworks like GRESB — but they face a major obstacle: under triple net leases, tenants pay the utility bills and control the data.

This was the case for a major portfolio in the sector. Without direct access to consumption data from tenants, the landlord had no efficient way to collect the information required by GRESB.

Manual efforts to gather information — on-site readings, spreadsheets  — were time-consuming, inconsistent, and error-prone. In addition, attempts to collect data directly from tenants were often ignored or denied, rarely resulting in success.

The experience at one of the assets, with 6 buildings and 19 tenants, illustrates how the landlord tackled the challenge of tenant-controlled utility data and also delivered quantifiable value to their tenants.

How We Helped

The landlord adopted Enertiv to replace the manual process with an automated utility data collection system that ensures 100% accuracy. After working closely with the asset management team to evaluate the portfolio’s needs and constraints, we implemented a tailored combination of strategies.

For tenant-controlled accounts, we deployed non-proprietary, multi-point shadow metering for electrical consumption. For gas usage, manual readings are captured via app and QR code. Each reading is verified and linked to a specific meter through location-based QR codes, ensuring accuracy and eliminating errors.

For landlord-controlled utility accounts, usage data was automatically pulled from utility portals into the Enertiv platform. All data was automatically synced with Energy Star through a two-way integration.

Digitalization and Operational Inventory

During installation, Enertiv also conducted a full infrastructure survey: equipment, meters, panels, and circuits were photographed, labeled with QR codes, and digitally documented. Each asset received a digital equipment profile including manufacturer, manuals, serial number, and operational condition.

This digital inventory serves as a centralized source of asset information, enhances the quality of insights generated by the platform, and provides a foundation for future strategies such as predictive maintenance, asset replacement planning, and decarbonization roadmaps.

Results

After the metering equipment was installed and integrations were completed, the landlord gained access to a centralized portal with structured and accessible data for the asset. Each tenant also received access to a dedicated interface to monitor their own consumption.

But the impact went far beyond visibility. With data in place, Enertiv uncovered nearly $300,000 per year in savings and new revenue opportunities across the six analyzed properties. These included energy conservation measures such as reducing operational load and managing peak demand. In addition, we identified opportunities to participate in demand response programs—where tenants are paid to reduce consumption during peak grid periods.

These recommendations are generated by Enertiv’s algorithms, validated by our engineering team, and delivered to tenants with estimated savings, environmental impact (in CO₂ avoided), and a ready-to-execute action plan.