This year’s MIPIM event in Cannes was a hub of innovation and collaboration, gathering industry leaders to discuss the exciting future of real estate and infrastructure. It was inspiring to connect, exchange ideas, and showcase Schneider Electric’s commitment to creating responsible and responsive commercial real estate—underscoring the industry’s shift toward sustainable, data-driven solutions.
Three key takeaways are set to impact the future of real estate:
- The urgent need for building decarbonization to meet financial, regulatory, and operational goals.
- The exponential growth in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven demand for data centers and the resulting infrastructure challenges.
- The transformative power of AI and analytics in improving portfolio performance and driving value creation.
I had the pleasure of interacting with our partners and customers to see how these areas directly impact their operations.
Sustainability and building decarbonization
Building decarbonization continues to become a top priority for building owners and investors, driven by financial, energy, and regulatory considerations. Rising energy costs, tightening regulations, and increasing pressure from stakeholders drive the shift toward low-carbon buildings.
At MIPIM, we highlighted our Path to Net-Zero Buildings strategy–a clear framework for reducing emissions while maintaining profitability. Owners can enhance building value and improve operational efficiency by combining smart retrofit strategies and innovative building technologies. The results speak for themselves:
- 70% operational CO2 reduction through enhanced building performance
- 53% avoided emissions with data-driven energy optimization
- 24-point increase in GRESB scores reflecting improved sustainability metrics
One standout example is the 150 Holborn project in London. Schneider Electric partnered with Sidara to study the impact of integrating smart building technology and energy conservation measures (ECMs), including occupancy-based setbacks. This simple, effective strategy delivered a 22% reduction in operational energy use and carbon emissions during business hours. This research project illustrates how data-driven decision-making can align sustainability with financial outcomes.
Our work with Paragon also demonstrates the value of integrating systems to identify performance gaps, automate corrective actions, and enhance overall building efficiency. Paragon CEO Bedeir Rizk states that, with our partnership journey in their mixed-use building project, they were able “to reduce CO2 emissions by 21%, equal to 20,000 trees planted each year.”
AI-driven demand for data centers
AI is driving explosive growth in the data center market. The rise of generative AI and large-scale machine learning models creates unprecedented infrastructure demands:
- $1.3 trillion – Projected generative AI market cap by 2032
- $131.5 billion – VC and private equity investment in AI startups, with over 50% of global VC funding now focused on AI infrastructure
- 130 GW by 2028 – The global data center market is expanding at 16% annually
But this rapid expansion also brings significant challenges:
- Power availability – Grid capacity is limited in key markets, creating delays in construction and higher costs.
- Infrastructure design complexity – Hyperscale data centers are moving toward average rack densities of 150kW+.
- Sustainability – The surge in energy demand could derail decarbonization efforts without more innovative energy solutions.
Schneider Electric is helping data center operators navigate these challenges through strategic partnerships with leaders like NVIDIA and Scott Data. By delivering high-density infrastructure, optimizing power capacity, and enhancing sustainability, Schneider Electric enables data centers to scale more efficiently while reducing environmental impact.
AI and analytics: Transforming portfolio performance
In addition to data center transformations, AI and analytics are reshaping buildings’ operations. This technology is crucial for optimizing building performance and delivering a better occupant experience.
The Schneider Electric EcoStruxure™ platform integrates AI and real-time data to improve decision-making across the asset lifecycle. The benefits are measurable and significant:
- 70% reduction in energy consumption through AI-driven optimization
- 65% reduction in tenant comfort-related complaints
- 61% reduction in third-party labor costs through predictive maintenance
AI and machine learning enable building management systems to anticipate issues before they arise, improving energy efficiency and tenant satisfaction.
Predictive insights are also driving value creation at the portfolio level. By centralizing data and applying machine learning models, asset managers can make informed decisions that maximize returns and future-proof their investments.
James O’Donnell, London Property Digital Leader at Arup, articulates the value he sees in extracting value from building performance data, “…we need to collaborate better to reduce carbon and ensure we are reducing the capital costs and operating costs of projects by learning from the data that is available…”
Take the next step
MIPIM 2025 highlighted the powerful alignment between sustainability, AI, and building performance. Schneider Electric’s responsible and responsive commercial real estate approach ensures that building owners and operators can meet these challenges head-on—even enhancing financial performance, reducing emissions, and improving tenant satisfaction.
Learn more by downloading our eGuide and technical research summary detailing how to quantify the impact of your sustainability effort on operational energy use and carbon.
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