Energy Efficiency Tops Building Infrastructure Priorities, Siemens Study Finds

A 2025 Siemens study finds energy efficiency has become the leading infrastructure priority for organizations, driven by decarbonization goals, smart building investment and the push toward net-zero buildings.

• By Stasia DeMarco
• December 15, 2025

Improving energy efficiency in buildings has become the top infrastructure priority for organizations, driven by decarbonization goals and competitiveness, according to a new Siemens study.

The Siemens Infrastructure Transition Monitor 2025 found that energy efficiency ranked No. 1 among infrastructure priorities, rising from seventh place in 2023. More than half of the surveyed organizations reported that onsite renewable energy generation and electrification of heating and cooling systems are now at mature or advanced stages of implementation.

Looking ahead, 57% of respondents said they plan to increase investment in energy efficiency over the next year, while 55% expect to invest more in smart building technologies and 54% in building electrification. The study also found growing readiness for automation, with more than half of organizations indicating they are prepared to implement autonomous building systems.

Despite strong return-on-investment potential for many retrofit projects, cost-related barriers continue to slow progress. Respondents cited lack of capital, rising energy prices, and the cost of equipment and technology as the primary challenges to achieving energy efficiency and net-zero building goals.

Digital technologies are playing a central role in addressing these challenges, the study found. More than half of respondents said digitalization has a strong or transformational impact on energy efficiency, while 56% expect it to reduce operating costs. A similar share reported that digital building systems can improve workforce health and safety.

The study also highlighted data gaps as a continuing obstacle to decarbonization. Only half of organizations reported having sufficient data to make informed decisions about reducing building-related emissions, underscoring the need for broader adoption of building management and monitoring technologies. Increased transparency was cited as one of the key benefits of smart building systems, enabling organizations to better understand energy use, emissions profiles, and maintenance needs.

The Siemens Infrastructure Transition Monitor 2025 is a biennial study based on a survey of 1,400 senior executives and government representatives across 19 countries. It examines trends across energy, buildings, and industrial infrastructure, with a focus on priorities, progress, and challenges related to the transition toward more sustainable systems.