Real Estate Value Chain Map

A beginner-friendly map of where cost, risk, and emissions hide — and how to pick what to fix first

FoundationsGuide20 min

What you'll learn

  • Where cost, risk, and emissions actually live in your real estate value chain
  • How to identify high-impact zones to prioritize
  • A framework for picking what to fix first based on data feasibility
  • Common blind spots that drain value without visibility

Value chain zones

Procurement & Vendors

High

Service contracts, capital spend, vendor performance

Utilities & Energy

High

Energy consumption, demand charges, renewable procurement

Leased Assets

Medium-High

Tenant data, utility responsibility, green lease clauses

Waste & Recycling

Medium

Hauler data, diversion rates, contamination

Travel & Commuting

Lower

Business travel, employee commuting (smaller for most RE)

Capital Projects

High

Construction, retrofits, equipment replacement

Picking priorities

Score each zone on two dimensions:

Impact potential

How much cost/risk/emissions is likely here?

Data feasibility

Can you get actionable data in 30-90 days?

Start with zones that are High/High. Don't boil the ocean.

Change log

v1.0 (2026-01): Latest release