The numbers behind the awards
The winning projects (30 October 2026) offer concrete data, though they should be read carefully because they are not all measured against the same yardstick:
- La Marina del Prat Vermell, building A2 (Barcelona): 184 homes, c. 15,800 m², with a 74.45% cut in primary energy and 76.47% in CO₂ emissions versus the BREEAM reference building.
- AIKON Global Center (Granada): over 31,900 m² rated Outstanding; -61% non-renewable primary energy, -64% CO₂ and -61% water use versus the reference.
- Torre Realia – The Icon (Madrid): an in-use asset. Between 2024 and 2025 it cut energy use by 5.6% and emissions by 13.9%, and 75% of tenants have signed green leases.
Two compare against a theoretical reference building; the third compares real operating years. That distinction matters: designing well and operating well are different disciplines, and both can be certified.
The EPBD is no longer the future: the deadline passed on 29 May
Directive (EU) 2024/1275 required transposition by 29 May 2026. According to general press reports, the Commission opened infringement procedures in July against Member States that had not completed it. Context: buildings account for about 40% of EU energy consumption, and 75% of the building stock performs poorly, according to the Commission.
For hotels and sports centres, the expected update of Spain’s Technical Building Code (DB-HE3) points to control systems that record and analyse consumption, interoperate with HVAC and ventilation through open protocols, and detect losses in technical installations. In non-residential buildings with more than 290 kW of useful HVAC capacity, occupancy-based lighting control is required. In practice, BMS and building automation become core infrastructure, not an add-on.
From data to decisions
The market is also pricing efficiency: a better energy rating is estimated to add 5–10% to sale price, while F- or G-rated properties without a renovation plan may face discounts of €150–250/m² in urban areas (indicative market figures, not guaranteed savings).
That is why, in our hotel, sports and real estate projects, we work from one premise: define at design stage what will be measured (energy, water, comfort), how it will be monitored, and how it will be verified on site during construction supervision. Every challenge is different, so every solution is unique.
Final thought
The question is no longer “is it sustainable?” but “how do you prove it?” Is your next hotel, sports facility or real estate asset ready to answer with data?