The $43 Trillion Opportunity: Why Net-Zero Buildings Are Smart Business

By Mike Mustapha, Division President of ABB Smart Buildings

What if achieving net-zero emissions wasn’t just good for the planet, but the biggest economic opportunity of our generation?

According to Deloitte, reaching net-zero by mid-century could add $43 trillion to the global economy by 2070¹. That’s not a minor detail; it’s a shift in how we define growth. And buildings? As one of the largest sources of global emissions, they are a critical lever in this transformation. Decarbonizing them is key to achieving net-zero and unlocking economic opportunity.

It’s time to reframe sustainability as smart economics. Many still see it as a cost, not a growth lever. But the reality is clear: buildings that are smarter, more efficient, and lower in emissions are already outperforming financially, strategically, and competitively.

Here’s why:

1. Lower emissions, higher margins

Energy is one of the biggest operating costs in any building, but it’s also where the biggest savings lie. In fact, energy costs account for around 40–50 percent of total operating expenses in many commercial buildings².

Smart, efficient buildings are already delivering a 16.9 percent cut in operating costs³ and commanding up to 31 percent higher rents⁴. That’s not just good for the environment, that’s business logic.

From automation to electrification to energy monitoring, smart systems and solutions reduce waste, lower bills, and make performance more predictable. More than smart energy upgrades, they are strategic investments in resilience and profitability.

At ABB, we are seeing this in action every day across commercial portfolios in Europe and Asia, where accelerating regulations are driving demand for smarter, more energy-efficient buildings. Building owners are cutting costs and gaining visibility, all while staying ahead of regulatory demands.

2. A net-zero jobs engine

Net-zero is not just about cutting back – it’s about building forward.

In the UK alone, the transition could unlock up to 725,000 new ‘low-carbon’ jobs by 2030⁵, spanning sectors from construction and clean energy to technology and services. While this reflects the broader climate transition, smart buildings are a major contributor – creating demand for new roles in retrofitting, energy management, automation and digital integration.

This isn’t just limited to physical upgrades. It includes smart sensors, data platforms, training, and entirely new roles that didn’t exist a decade ago – all essential to making buildings more sustainable.

At ABB, we are enabling that shift through modular technologies, training, and partnerships with contractors, OEMs, and developers. The result is scalable, exportable models for growth. And it’s not just a ‘developed world’ opportunity. By 2030, emerging markets alone will represent a $24.7 trillion green building investment opportunity⁶, with Asia leading the charge.

This ripple effect is how buildings become economic multipliers.

3. Greener buildings, better returns

Many still see sustainability as a cost. But green buildings are outperforming in the market and on the balance sheet. The proof is in the numbers.

EY predicts 10–21 percent increase in market value for green buildings⁷
JLL research found an average ‘green premium’ of 7.1 percent across eight major cities in North America, 9.9 percent across nine cities in Asia Pacific and 11.6 percent in London⁸
Corporate tenants are actively seeking low-carbon spaces that align with their own ESG goals⁹

In short: sustainability sells. The global net-zero building market is set to nearly double in just four years¹⁰.

As sustainability moves from nice-to-have to non-negotiable, green buildings are outperforming. And with occupiers willing to pay more - and investors increasingly prioritizing buildings that can weather future risks - portfolios built around sustainability are gaining long-term value.

ABB helps building owners respond with intelligence, embedding solutions that track usage, emissions, and compliance in real time.

It’s about building smarter assets for a more competitive market. We are making spaces not just cleaner, but more responsive, desirable, and durable.It’s a new standard for value creation and it is already here.

4. Resilience is a business advantage

The cost of doing nothing is rising fast.

Buildings that don’t meet new environmental standards risk becoming financial liabilities and non-performing assets with lower demand, higher vacancy, and limited access to capital.

Sustainable buildings, by contrast, hold their value. They are eligible for ‘green financing’ incentives, attract long-term tenants, and protect value through future-proof design.

At ABB, we’re working with building owners to stay ahead with infrastructure that is grid-ready, emissions-aware, and compliant. Whether it is lifecycle CO₂ tracking or real-time energy dashboards, these tools are doing more than reporting – they are de-risking portfolios.

In today’s market, the most valuable buildings are the ones built to adapt.

Buildings as economic multipliers

It’s a simple fact that smart buildings not only reduce emissions, but they also unlock economic growth.

They lower costs
They create jobs
They increase asset value
They reduce investment risk
And they support stronger, more resilient communities

And they do all of this while helping the planet, too.

From schools and hospitals to offices and industrial hubs, ABB is working with partners across the globe to deliver on this promise, transforming real estate into a platform for economic progress.

When digital meets decarbonization, buildings stop being cost centers and start becoming engines of value.

The bottom line

The $43 trillion opportunity is already in motion – and buildings are helping to lead the way.

Reframing sustainability as smart economics means recognizing net-zero buildings as both an environmental necessity and as a business strategy. They reduce cost. They create value. They build resilience. They position portfolios for the future. And in a world shaped by climate, capital, and competition, that’s what smart business looks like.

The opportunity is here. Will you build for it?

About the author

Mike Mustapha

Mike is the Division President of ABB Smart Buildings and was appointed in February 2022. In this position, he has full accountability for the performance of the global Smart Buildings business in ABB, which includes a broad portfolio of market-leading home and building automation solutions as well as the portfolio for energy distribution systems and products. After starting his career in the U.S. in 1990 as an Application Engineer with Rotoflow Corp. Inc., a leading supplier of high-speed rotary and cryogenic machinery for process industries, Mike built global leadership experience with Altas CopCo, a multinational industrial company, where he held various leadership positions. In January 2009, Mike founded the new Pre-Engineered Buildings and Hot Rolled Structured Steel Group, headquartered in Jeddah, KSA with its own independent Board. Mike assumed overall accountability for the company, overseeing the Middle East. Mike joined ABB in August 2011 as Low Voltage Division Regional Manager for India, Middle East & Africa. In June 2014, he was promoted to Global Managing Director for the Building Products Business Unit prior to his 2018 appointment as Head of Global Markets for the Electrification business. Mike currently resides in Dubai and holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southern California (USC), U.S.