In sustainability discussions around the built environment, attention often centers on design and construction. Yet it is during the operational phase—the long, continuous stage that defines a building’s useful life—where most of its environmental footprint and transformative potential are concentrated. In fact, up to 72% of a building’s carbon emissions over a 60-year life cycle occur during this stage. This makes it essential to broaden our understanding of asset value, moving beyond a narrow focus on return on investment (ROI) to include property valuation, operational efficiency, investment appeal, mitigation of reputational and technical risks, resilience, and intangible benefits such as occupant well-being and talent retention.

From this perspective, sustainable operations are not just an environmental initiative—they are a sound management strategy aligned with today’s corporate, regulatory, and climate imperatives. Tools such as LEED for Operations and Maintenance (LEED O+M) provide a proven pathway to reduce energy and water use, enhance occupant health and comfort, and optimize asset profitability.

A recent study by the Colombian Green Building Council—More Value and Better Performance: The Business of Operating Well—developed in collaboration with GBCI and the Green Building Councils of Mexico, Guatemala, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, and Argentina, found that 72% of participating projects achieved significant reductions in energy and water consumption, while 70% reported tangible improvements in occupant health and comfort.

The benefits, however, extend well beyond efficiency. The study showed that 83% of projects found certification strengthened business relationships with corporate clients driven by ESG criteria, while 50% reported higher profitability through more efficient operations, improved occupant experience, and competitive differentiation. In short, sustainable operation is a smart management decision that boosts both asset value and resilience. Notably, the top motivation for pursuing certification, cited by 53% of respondents, was to fulfill corporate sustainability commitments—an increasingly important factor for building trust with investors who are closely monitoring climate and performance risks. Operational sustainability is thus becoming a decisive factor for capital access, brand strength, and competitiveness in today’s marketplace.

Despite these advantages, structural barriers persist. Technical and budgetary hurdles remain when modernizing outdated systems, coordination challenges are common in multi-owner or multi-tenant buildings, and measurement of benefits must become more robust to support informed decision-making. Incentives are also limited, with only 14% of projects reporting access to them.

Ultimately, operating a building well goes far beyond keeping it functional. It means managing it as a living asset that interacts with its environment, consumes and regenerates resources, and directly shapes the health, well-being, and productivity of its occupants. In this context, Latin America’s existing building stock represents a critical opportunity to accelerate climate action through sustainable operations—reducing risk and costs, protecting or enhancing asset value, and strengthening resilience in the face of climate change. For the real estate and financial sectors, this is not only a challenge but also a strategic opportunity for those who manage assets wisely.