Why quick wins
Quick wins serve three functions at once: they give fast, measurable proof of value, build trust for further cooperation, and can fund the next steps from the savings achieved. It's the best way to make modernisation start with an effect, not a big spend.
One assumption is key: quick wins are low- and mid-capital actions with a fast return, not a trimmed-down version of a big project.
Schedules and setpoints
The cheapest return usually lies in retro-commissioning: fixing system schedules, tidying setpoints and restoring correct control logic. A building often „runs around the clock” where it doesn't need to.
These actions need no new hardware and can noticeably cut consumption in the first weeks.
Metering the critical areas
The second quick win is targeted metering of a few areas with the largest share of cost. It isn't about full submetering of the whole building, but about seeing within 90 days where energy really leaks.
This step pays back twice: it delivers savings and, at the same time, builds the data for future, larger decisions.
Comfort and small corrections
The third area is user comfort: adjusting HVAC operation, improving air quality in sensitive zones, small actions that raise the tenant experience. Low cost, a clear effect on how the building is perceived.
It also signals to the tenant that the owner actively manages the asset — which has value in lease-renewal conversations.
What NOT to do in 90 days
Quick wins are not for making large, irreversible decisions. Replacing heat sources, rebuilding the systems architecture or big hardware investments need data and a business case — which usually don't exist yet within 90 days.
The „since we're at it” temptation can be costly. Quick wins are meant to prepare the ground for good big decisions, not to replace them.
90 days is too little for a major modernisation, but enough to prove value and build data. The quick-wins list is set by the ESG Tech Audit — from the cheapest return to the hardest decision.