Why Net Zero Needs Both Landlords and Tenants on Board

At Symphony Energy, we’ve always believed that real sustainability is a team effort. Achieving net-zero carbon emissions isn’t something that can be done in isolation; it requires alignment, cooperation, and a shared vision between everyone who occupies and operates a building. 

In an era where buildings account for nearly 40% of global energy use and carbon emissions, it’s clear that the path to net zero doesn’t simply end with better technology; rather it depends on better collaboration as well.

Across the commercial property landscape, a quiet revolution is happening. Landlords are investing in smarter systems, greener infrastructure, and data-driven optimisation. Yet, for all the progress being made, there’s a growing recognition that landlords can’t do it alone. Tenants, who often account for half or more of a building’s total energy use, are essential partners in the net-zero journey.

The challenge is no longer just technical; it’s cultural. How do we get everyone pulling in the same direction? At Symphony Energy, we’re helping redefine what that collaboration looks like through technology that bridges the gap between building owners and occupiers, aligning their goals and making energy performance a shared success story.

Why Landlords Can’t Go It Alone

For years, sustainability strategies have focused on the landlord’s role, from improving plant room efficiency to installing renewable technologies. These initiatives are essential, but they tell only half the story. In most commercial buildings, tenant activities drive up to 50% of total energy demand, from lighting and HVAC usage to plug loads and operational schedules.

This means that even the most efficient systems can only go so far if tenants operate in ways that undermine those efficiencies. A landlord may fine-tune the building’s heating and cooling systems, but if tenants override controls or run energy-intensive equipment late into the night, the overall gains are diluted.

Additionally, traditional lease structures often separate responsibility and reward; landlords pay for capital improvements, but tenants see the benefit in lower energy bills. This split incentive problem makes it difficult to justify investment in sustainability measures when the financial or operational benefits aren’t shared.

True net zero demands a more integrated approach, one where both parties understand their impact, have access to the same data, and work together toward mutual goals.

Getting Tenants to Care

The first step in building that partnership is engagement. Tenants are more likely to participate in sustainability efforts when they can see the value directly, whether through cost savings, improved comfort, or alignment with their own corporate ESG commitments.

At Symphony, we’ve seen how data transparency and shared insight can transform tenant behaviour. When energy performance data is made visible, not hidden in backend systems or quarterly reports, it becomes a catalyst for change. Tenants start to understand the real-time impact of their actions, from adjusting thermostat settings to managing occupancy patterns.

Incentives can also play a crucial role. Many forward-thinking landlords are introducing green lease clauses, energy performance targets, or reward schemes that tie rent or service charge benefits to demonstrable energy reductions. When tenants have a clear stake in the outcome, participation naturally increases.

But engagement is only as effective as the information behind it. That’s where technology becomes a bridge between intention and impact.

Building Trust Through Visibility

Trust is the foundation of collaboration, and trust grows from visibility. Our suite of smart optimisation tools, including Symphony Cloud and Symphony WellTech, enables landlords and tenants to share a single source of truth when it comes to energy and comfort performance.

Through intuitive dashboards and real-time analytics, both parties can monitor key metrics like energy usage, air quality, temperature, and occupancy. This shared visibility removes the guesswork and ensures accountability. If energy demand spikes or comfort levels fluctuate, it’s immediately clear where the issue lies and how to resolve it.

For landlords, this means greater control and confidence that building systems are operating as intended. For tenants, it creates empowerment, a chance to actively participate in achieving sustainability goals rather than being passive occupants.

Overall, we’ve found that this kind of data-driven transparency doesn’t just improve performance; it strengthens relationships. It transforms the landlord-tenant dynamic from one of compliance to one of cooperation. Everyone can see the results, and everyone shares in the success.

A New Model of Partnership

As buildings evolve into smarter, more adaptive systems, the relationship between landlords and tenants must evolve too. The most successful net-zero strategies will be those that embrace a new model of partnership, one where sustainability is not an imposed obligation, but a shared pursuit.

This shift requires both cultural and operational change. Landlords must view tenants not as energy consumers, but as co-investors in a shared outcome. Tenants, in turn, must recognise that their behaviour directly influences building performance and carbon reduction.

Technology is the enabler that makes this collaboration practical and measurable. With Symphony’s full-stack approach, combining real-time data analytics, adaptive control, and occupant feedback, we’re helping create buildings where every stakeholder plays an active role in the sustainability journey.

Imagine a future where every building’s performance dashboard is a shared canvas, one that reflects the collective efforts of owners, managers, and occupants alike. Where energy efficiency is not just a building metric, but a culture of continuous improvement. That’s the future we’re already building.

Conclusion: Shared Goals, Shared Gains

The path to net zero isn’t one that landlords can walk alone. It requires shared responsibility, shared data, and shared gains. By aligning incentives, fostering transparency, and using intelligent systems that keep everyone informed and accountable, we can turn sustainability into a true partnership.

At Symphony Energy, we believe that the buildings of the future will be defined not only by how smart their systems are, but by how well their people collaborate. When landlords and tenants work together, empowered by visibility, trust, and technology, the results are transformative: lower energy use, higher comfort, reduced emissions, and stronger relationships.

Net zero isn’t a destination; it’s a shared journey. And when we move forward together, everyone wins.