Mexico. Energy efficiency in facilities and buildings has emerged as the top infrastructure priority for organizations looking to drive decarbonization and competitiveness, rising from seventh place in 2023, a recent Siemens study and survey reveals.
In addition, a higher proportion of respondents indicate that on-site renewable energy production and electrification of heating and cooling systems are now in mature or advanced stages, compared to the 2023 results.
The study, Siemens Infrastructure Transition Monitor 2025, shows that more than half of the participants plan to increase investment in energy efficiency (57%), smart building technologies (55%) and building electrification (54%) over the next year.
Despite many retrofits offering a strong return on investment (ROI), the main barriers to advancing energy efficiency goals since 2023 have been related to costs, including lack of capital, rising energy prices, and the high cost of new equipment and technologies.
To overcome these challenges, Siemens offers Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) models, leveraging the in-house financing capabilities of Siemens Financial Services. By aligning payment structures with guaranteed outcomes—such as energy savings and carbon emission reductions—large upfront capital expenditures (CapEx) are replaced by outcome-based operating costs (OpEx).
Digital technologies are also proving critical in accelerating this transformation. More than half (55%) of respondents say digitalisation has a strong or transformative impact on energy efficiency, with 56% expecting it to reduce costs and 55% believing it can improve the health and safety of staff.
"Buildings are increasingly recognized as strategic assets in the infrastructure transition, with technologies such as AI, digital platforms and autonomous systems acting as catalysts," said Susanne Seitz, CEO Buildings at Siemens Smart Infrastructure.
"When it comes to autonomous systems, organizations expect significant advances in energy efficiency, intelligent anomaly detection, increased physical safety, and healthier, more comfortable spaces for occupants. This is exactly the path we are charting at Siemens: to create autonomous buildings focused on people that serve them best," he added.
However, only half (50%) of organizations currently have the data needed to make informed decisions about decarbonization, underscoring the need to implement technology in buildings. Following ROI, increased transparency is considered the second biggest benefit of smart building technologies, helping organizations understand their energy and emissions profiles, plan renovations, and optimize maintenance.
The Siemens Infrastructure Transition Monitor 2025 analyzes the evolution of the infrastructure transition, highlights its pressing priorities, and charts the way forward for business and government leaders. The report is a biennial study commissioned by Siemens, which surveyed 1,400 senior managers and government representatives in 19 countries, spanning the energy, buildings and industries sectors. The chapter dedicated to buildings explores the progress, priorities and challenges involved in the decarbonisation of the real estate sector.
