Deepki Released 2026 Index on Building Emissions
A new report tracks building energy consumption and carbon emission trends across global markets.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Remote Work
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Deepki released its 2026 Index, revealing that European building energy consumption rose 5 percent between 2021 and 2025. While energy use grew, carbon emissions across the region fell 7 percent during the same period.
Why it matters
The index highlights the divergence between rising energy demand and improving carbon efficiency. Progress in lowering emissions is primarily attributed to a cleaner electricity grid across Europe.
Energy consumption in Europe fell 4.5 percent between 2023 and 2025, while carbon intensity dropped 12 percent. By comparison, US offices consume 26 percent more energy and emit 94 percent more CO2 than their European counterparts.
The players
Deepki
Deepki is an organization that specializes in data intelligence for the real estate sector, focusing on environmental, social, and governance reporting.
The details
The report tracks real energy consumption across thousands of buildings to measure performance metrics. The United Kingdom remains the most intensive market in the index, averaging 205 kWh/m² per year with a grid carbon intensity of 0.165 kgCO2/kWh.
Timeline
2021 marked the beginning of the five-year tracking period for energy and emissions.
2023-2025 saw a specific decline in carbon intensity and energy consumption.
2025 served as the final year for energy data collection in the current study.
2026 is the year the Deepki Index was officially published.
Market Landscape
This report highlights a critical shift as the industry balances rising energy demand with strict decarbonization mandates. It follows a pattern set by the European Union's Energy Performance of Buildings Directive regarding long-term carbon reduction targets.
As building energy intensity remains high in certain regions, office tenants and companies may see increased operational costs due to energy usage. Better carbon efficiency metrics could eventually lead to more stringent building performance standards for businesses.
The takeaway
The data suggests that a cleaner power grid is the primary driver behind current emission reductions, even as physical energy consumption remains elevated. Companies should focus on grid-integrated energy strategies to meet future sustainability goals.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest trends in the Remote Work sector and how global policies are shaping office operations.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Renewable Energy Magazine, at the heart of clean energy journalism.
Live Poll
Is improving building energy efficiency more important than simply relying on a cleaner electricity grid?
