Owner zone

Advisory and certification that translate into property value Building performance measurements

JWA – 200+ certifications annually in CEE

The value of a commercial building today depends not only on its basic features, but also on parameters that no one measured 10 years ago. Investors, banks and tenants ask about operating costs, energy efficiency, decarbonisation pathway and regulatory position. The answers and their justification translate into financing terms and valuation. That is why we help owners of portfolios from 5,000 to +200,000 sq m assess the current position of the asset and translate it into decisions on what to do, when and for how much.

5 challenges commercial building owners are facing

01. Refinancing

A certificate required by the bank in the financing process is standard. More and more often, however, it is not enough, because banks then ask about the 5–10-year decarbonisation pathway, the position on the CRREM pathway and compliance with the EU Taxonomy. Owners who present these elements in a structured and complete way obtain better financing terms.

The difference between a “green” loan and a standard one is typically 15–20 basis points. Over the life of the loan, this is a significant benefit, especially when financing a portfolio of buildings.

We start from the refinancing schedule and an analysis of the requirements of the specific institution. We build one data set that supports certification, the energy model and the bank package at the same time.

Face the challenges – with our support. Let’s talk.

JWA solutions:

02. Tenant retention

Corporate tenants report their own environmental footprint and take a building’s ESG parameters into account when negotiating lease agreements. An owner who can document these parameters is in a stronger negotiating position.

A certificate and a Tenant ESG Brochure that is clear for the tenant provide an overview of the building’s environmental data and arguments that appear at the negotiating table more and more often, and are sometimes even a precondition for starting any talks about cooperation at all.

We design the certification so that the data obtained through it are useful for both parties to the lease agreement. After the project is completed, the owner can receive a Tenant ESG Brochure — a ready‑to‑use asset for lease renewal discussions.

Face the challenges – with our support. Let’s talk.

JWA solutions:

03. Preserving asset value

Changing market conditions, regulations and the requirements of regulated funds, also in the ESG context, are reshaping asset valuation criteria. Buildings that today are assessed solely in terms of location, leased area and the results of classical DD may have limited access to financing in 3–5 years — not because of technical underperformance, but because they do not meet new legislative standards.

The risk of reduced asset liquidity for regulatory reasons is being realistically priced in by funds and is reflected in bank models. The closer the regulatory deadline, the higher the cost of modernization.

We start our analysis by taking into account relevant (current and announced) regulations and then combine legal, operational and business aspects to build a single data set describing the building’s situation, instead of running separate projects for each framework.

Face the challenges – with our support. Let’s talk.

JWA solutions:

04. Transaction readiness

Institutional buyers expect verification of data including energy consumption and emissions as a standard element of due diligence. Complete documentation shortens the process for both parties.

In projects audited by JWA, actual energy consumption turned out to be higher than declared, on average by 15–25%. It is better for the owner to be the first to know about these discrepancies than the buyer.

We validate data from bills, the BMS and technical documentation. The owner receives an energy baseline and an assessment of the building’s position — in a format that institutional buyers accept without additional questions.

Face the challenges – with our support. Let’s talk.

JWA solutions:

05. Operational efficiency

Buildings after 10–15 years of operation have 15–25% hidden energy-saving potential: in the BMS, installation schedules, and metering gaps.

Over a decade of a building’s operation, deviations and errors resulting from equipment operation accumulate. They are accompanied by price fluctuations and changing costs, making it harder to notice growing losses. Benchmark comparison allows you to easily estimate the savings potential.

We divide recommendations into three groups: without CAPEX, ROI up to 3 years, long-term plan. Each has a cost estimate and projected return.

Face the challenges – with our support. Let’s talk.

JWA solutions:

Stages of cooperation with JWA

We do not start with certification. We start with understanding the owner’s situation and the asset itself. Certification, energy audit, decarbonisation analysis and ESG verification are tools for achieving business objectives. That is why we select them after diagnosis.

We show your involvement at each stage in the table next to this text:

Client’s involvement

Thanks to our Best Assessor Company status, JWA’s certification applications are processed as a priority: 2–3 weeks instead of several months.

Asset diagnostics

Assessment of the building in four areas (see below). Comparison with a benchmark of 1,000+ buildings. Identification of gaps and opportunities.

Diagnostic meeting ~ 1h

01

Value plan

Investment strategy with return forecast – a list of recommendations: what to implement, in what order, at what cost, and what effect to expect. CAPEX linked to value — not to a certification checklist.

Plan review and decision ~ 1h

02

Implementation

Certification, audit, BMS optimization, ESG documentation — scope resulting from the plan. Templates and workspace ready from day one.

40–60 h over 6–8 weeks

03

Transaction readiness

Documentation ready for the bank, buyer or investor: certificate, banking package, energy baseline, decarbonization pathway.

Review and approval

04

4 areas of diagnostics

BREEAM In-Use is an ESG documentation standard accepted by financial institutions, funds and tenants in Poland and CEE.

Energy efficiency

Actual metered consumption compared with a benchmark of 1,000+ buildings. Identification of deviations and their annual cost.

Climate risk

Exposure to standard and non-standard physical factors: floods, heat stress, droughts. Impact on insurance conditions, tenants and financing terms.

Regulatory and financial position

The situation of the building in the context of current and upcoming regulations. Taking into account the refinancing schedule and the requirements of the specific financial institution.

Sustainability standards

Selecting the type and level of certification to match the client’s goal: bank requirement, tenant requirement, transaction support, investor strategy. We certify and advise for a specific business outcome.

Services that support business goals

The choice of services and certifications results from understanding the client’s situation and operating framework. Typically, the diagnosis indicates 2–3 tools whose use is justified.

Certification of an existing building. A standard accepted by banks, funds and tenants in CEE.

Preliminary project assessment with a scorecard. The starting point for deciding on the scope of further work.

Standardised certification for portfolios of 5+ buildings. Includes a portfolio dashboard and materials for investors.

Verification of ESG data in transactions. Energy baseline, identification of discrepancies.

Actual consumption vs benchmark. CAPEX plan with payback forecast.

Tailored to requirements, documentation for the credit committee: decarbonisation position, 36‑month action plan.

Who runs the project?

Each project has its dedicated project manager and a supporting team. One contact person throughout the entire delivery.

Dominika Bryła

Existing Buildings, Head of ESG, Technical & Certification Consultancy

Przemysław Rejczak

Head of Energy and Building Performance

Sylwia Bieda

Asesor BREEAM, Team Leader and Sustainability Specialis

Brian Kober

Existing Buildings Advisory | Head of Technical Consultancy

Alicja Bielańska

Sustainability Specialist

Katarzyna Mercik Mrowiec

Team Leader, Sustainability Specialist

What ROI can I expect and what does it depend on?

ESG certification and sustainability documentation are an investment. Below are concrete data from JWA projects and the CEE market — real results, not estimates.

BMS optimisation based on benchmarking.

Building type:

Logistics centre

Area:

72,000 m²

Location:

Silesia

Budget:

25,000 PLN

Result:

8% reduction in energy consumption in the first year — without investing in new equipment.

Excellent certificate with a banking package.

Building type:

Office

Area:

20,000 m²

Location:

Warsaw

Budget:

Lorem

Result:

The bank granted 18 basis points of better spread. Over a 5-year loan period, this is a saving that far exceeds the cost of certification.

Refinancing with maturity in 4 months.

Building type:

Logistics portfolio

Area:

183,000 m²

Location:

3 locations

Budget:

Lorem

Result:

Instead of three separate processes — one project with one data set. Documentation accepted on time. CAPEX plans ready in parallel with certification.

What do owners gain when they work with JWA?

Energy data, regulatory position, tenant profile and climate risk — four analyses from one data set. The owner knows what to do, when to do it and at what cost.

Documentation that anticipates the bank’s questions

Certification, decarbonisation pathway and banking package from a single data set.

Stronger position towards tenants

Environmental data in a format useful for the tenant. The Tenant ESG Brochure as an argument when negotiating the lease agreement.

Regulatory position

Regulatory and banking requirements mapped together in a clear and relevant way, aligned with the investor’s situation.

Shortened due diligence

Independent verification of operational data and flagging of discrepancies.

OPEX savings

Benchmarking against 1,000+ buildings. BMS optimisation delivers up to 8% energy savings with no capital expenditure.

JWA in numbers

200+

buildings certified annually in CEE

70+

experts (certifications / ESG / energy / law)

1000+

buildings in the JWA Benchmark Database

6–8 weeks

to certification (market standard: 12–16 weeks)

Key questions and answers

Where should I start if I’m not sure whether I need certification?

With a diagnostic call. In 30 minutes we will make an initial assessment of the building’s situation and tell you whether certification makes sense or whether another tool is needed. Sometimes the answer is: start with a pre-assessment and only decide on the scope of certification once the diagnosis is complete.

How long does BREEAM In-Use certification take?

With JWA: 6–8 weeks. Market standard is 12–16 weeks. JWA applications are processed as a priority by BRE in 2–3 weeks instead of several months.

What will my team’s involvement be?

A total of 40–60 hours over 6–8 weeks. We send templates and instructions ready before the project starts. Your role is to provide the necessary data and ensure access to the building so that we can perform the planned analyses — the entire certification process remains on our side.

What will I receive after the project is completed?

It depends on its scope.

Standard: BREEAM In-Use certificate (valid for 3 years), pre-assessment report with scorecard and energy baseline.

Optional: Tenant ESG Brochure, bank package, ESG Due Diligence report.

I have a portfolio of 5+ buildings — can I carry out the certification process for all of them at the same time? What does that involve?

Check the Portfolio Program: a standardized process for a real estate portfolio, including: prioritization of assets by value potential, a shared dashboard, and investor materials.

We define the scope and cooperation schedule after diagnosing the portfolio and the client’s business goals.

Write to us

Leave your contact details and our expert will get back to you within 24 hours.

Dominika Bryła

Partner, Existing Buildings

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Discover our case studies

Conducting the BREEAM New Construction certification process for the Skyliner skyscraper in Warsaw

Conducting the BREEAM New Construction certification process for the Posejdon mixed-use complex in Szczecin

Consultancy in the BREEAM New Construction certification process of the Hi Piotrkowska office building

Conducting the BREEAM certification process for 7R’s production, warehouse and office facilities

Advice and execution of a Type III environmental product declaration (EPD) for Mercor products

Net Zero decarbonization analysis using energy model for Q22 Warsaw

Advisory services in the BREEAM In-Use certification process for Fortress logistic parks