In our latest spotlight interview, we spoke to Ben Perrett, Co-Founder & Director at Etainabl. Ben shares their journey so far, how they ensure data accuracy and reliability and their role in helping organisations meet their ESG goals. “The future of carbon data collection is looking increasingly towards being AI driven. Which will mean a world where data is far more automated, precise, and integrated than it is today. As well as this the real estate sector faces significant challenges in reducing carbon emissions, meeting ever changing sustainability requirements and reporting to increasingly stringent standards.”

Q1. Etainabl helps real estate companies collect carbon data more efficiently. Can you tell us briefly what led to the development of Etainabl and your journey so far?

Etainabl was born out of my frustration with the outdated and inefficient systems used to manage utility data within the built environment. These systems were not only unappealing but also lacked core functionality and were heavily reliant on manual data input by human teams, leading to frequent errors. Recognising the underserved real estate market in terms of a product that genuinely met the needs of real estate stakeholders while leveraging modern technology to automate processes, we developed our first minimally viable product. Within a few months, we had secured our first customer. Over the past three years, we have grown organically, developing our product in partnership with real estate owners and operators. Today, we support around 3,000 assets, assisting them with their data needs and aiding them on their journey towards net zero.

Q2. How does Etainabl ensure the reliability and accuracy of the data collected, particularly concerning utility and tenant data?

Data that is confirmed into our system goes through a series of validations to detect unusual consumption patterns, check for continuity or calculation errors, this ensures data accuracy and integrity. We can also provide automated alerting for any discrepancies or unusual data, significantly reducing the potential for errors caused by manual data entry. Our ability to take consumption from multiple sources means that we can verify and prioritise more accurate sources of data leading to enhanced accuracy of your environmental reporting.

Q3. Etainabl recently launched Gridfetch, can you tell us briefly how this enhances the data collection process?

Gridfetch enhances the data collection process by truly automating utility data. This data is sourced via API directly from grid operators and is available for all primary gas and electricity meters across the UK at varying granularity. This method allows our users to bypass traditional methods of collection that can be time-consuming and less reliable such as manual requests for data. Users can get instant access to the data, including a comprehensive 12-month historical record, and once the connection is set up it is a real set and forget method for gathering data.

Q4. How does Etainabl tailor its approach to collecting carbon data to meet the specific needs and requirements of the different target markets such as managing agents, real estate funds and consultancies? 

Etainabl was built to serve the real estate market and can help meet the distinct needs of different stakeholders, the main three being; managing agents, real estate funds, and consultancies. Each player has a slightly different requirement when it comes to managing data and the purposes behind it.

• Managing Agents: Managing agents often oversee multiple properties and are responsible for ensuring operational efficiency and regulatory compliance. Etainabl provides a centralised platform that automates the collection and management of utility data across all managed properties. This simplifies reporting, reduces errors associated with manual data entry, and enhances the ability to monitor and improve energy performance across portfolios. Managing agents benefit from tools that enable proactive management of energy consumption and costs, supporting more sustainable property management practices.
• Real Estate Funds: For real estate funds, the focus is on maximising asset value and investment returns while increasingly ensuring sustainability targets are met. Etainabl offers robust data aggregation and analysis tools that allow funds to track and manage the carbon footprint of their entire portfolio. By providing detailed insights into the energy performance of assets, Etainabl helps funds identify opportunities for energy savings and compliance with global ESG standards, thereby improving the fund’s appeal to potential investors.
• Consultancies: Consultancies require detailed, accurate, and actionable data to advise clients on sustainability strategies effectively. Etainabl supports this need with advanced analytics that assess and benchmark energy usage and carbon emissions. The platform’s customisable reporting capabilities enable consultancies to generate tailored insights and recommendations that align with specific client goals, such as reducing carbon footprints, enhancing energy efficiency, or preparing for ESG reporting.

Q5.Looking ahead, how does Etainabl envision the future of carbon data collection in the real estate industry, and what role does your solution aim to play in driving continued progress towards real estate companies meeting their ESG goals?

The future of carbon data collection is looking increasingly towards being AI driven. Which will mean a world where data is far more automated, precise, and integrated than it is today. As well as this the real estate sector faces significant challenges in reducing carbon emissions, meeting ever changing sustainability requirements and reporting to increasingly stringent standards. Therefore having access to reliable, real-time data is increasingly critical to overcoming this challenge as without it you can not make well informed decisions.

Our role is to streamline this complex process of data collection, validation, and reporting, making it as effortless and error-free as possible. Looking ahead, Etainabl is committed to continuously enhancing our technology to support the industry’s journey to net-zero emissions. By improving data interoperability, accessibility and reliability, we aim to be at the forefront of driving the real estate industry towards a sustainable and environmentally responsible future.