More than 60% of buildings will need to be retrofitted by 2040, and the progressive upgrade of systems is emerging as the most efficient route to total replacement.
By Laura Restrepo C.
The progressive modernization of systems is emerging as one of the main strategies to improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings, in a context marked by rising energy costs, decarbonization regulations and new demands on well-being and environmental performance.
According to estimates by the International Energy Agency (IEA), more than 60% of buildings currently in operation will require some level of modernization before 2040 to meet climate and energy performance standards. In addition, real estate accounts for around 30% of the world's energy consumption, which reinforces the urgency of adopting strategies aimed at optimising its operation.
Faced with this scenario, completely replacing infrastructure – particularly HVAC systems – is not always the most efficient or cost-effective solution. Specialists in the sector point out that obsolescence does not necessarily lie in the equipment, but in the absence of a comprehensive updating strategy that allows capitalizing on existing systems and aligning them with sustainability and operational performance objectives.
Enrique Tello, general manager of Trane Mexico, explains that, "with a well-defined modernization strategy, commercial buildings can capitalize on their existing systems and move towards more efficient, intelligent and sustainable models, aligned with both business goals and new regulatory and environmental expectations."
Modernize instead of replace
The idea that an "old" building needs a total replacement to achieve higher levels of energy efficiency is increasingly being challenged. Instead of opting for complete replacements, progressive modernization makes it possible to transform traditional facilities into smart buildings, optimizing their performance without interrupting the operation.
In this regard, the specialist adds that, "modernizing the existing allows traditional facilities to be transformed into smart buildings, capable of optimizing their performance without interrupting operation or compromising profitability."
This approach involves understanding the building as an integral system that consumes energy, generates data, houses people, and sustains critical operations. From this perspective, technological and operational updating becomes a strategic process that goes beyond extending the useful life of the equipment.
Tello stresses that comprehensive modernization, particularly in the HVAC system, offers a more agile and cost-effective path than new construction. He clarifies that modernization does not mean artificially extending the useful life of exhausted systems or applying isolated solutions. "It is about rethinking the integral performance of the property from a technological and operational perspective; where the building ceases to be a set of independent systems and becomes an active platform that manages energy, comfort, maintenance, risks and operational continuity".
HVAC, the axis of transformation
Within this strategy, the HVAC system plays a central role. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, these systems can account for about 40% of total energy consumption in commercial buildings, making them a key point in closing performance gaps accumulated over time.
The gradual modernization of HVAC systems allows optimizing their operation, improving control over indoor environmental conditions and strengthening operational reliability, without resorting to total replacements or generating prolonged interruptions.
In this sense, Tello highlights that "a modernized HVAC system ceases to operate as an isolated system to be integrated into a broader vision of the operation of the property, contributing to cross-cutting objectives such as sustainability, operational resilience and asset valuation."
Strategic axes of modernization
Commercial building upgrades are increasingly focused on how existing infrastructures are operated, monitored, and optimized. Among the technical approaches that mark the agenda today are:
Energy-efficient rehabilitation, through the modernization of key systems such as air conditioning, lighting and envelopes, supported by advanced control and monitoring technologies.
Intelligent building automation, with advanced controls and data analytics that optimize daily operations and anticipate incidents.
Predictive maintenance, supported by connectivity and continuous diagnostics to identify anomalies before they become costly failures.
Decarbonization of buildings, which combines optimization of energy consumption, electrification of systems and intelligent management of refrigerants to reduce environmental impact.
In this context, comprehensive modernization – with HVAC systems as the axis – is positioned as a strategic alternative to respond to new demands for energy efficiency, comfort, regulatory compliance and operational continuity. Rather than replacing, the trend is to evolve existing infrastructures into active platforms, capable of facing current and future challenges with greater predictability and control.
