NEBs™: Quantifying the Added Value of Energy-Saving Buildings Now Available Online

NTT FACILITIES INC. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Susumu Kawaguchi; hereinafter referred to as "NTT FACILITIES") has jointly developed with Deloitte Tohmatsu LLC (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Executive Officer: Kenichi Kimura; hereinafter referred to as "Deloitte Tohmatsu") a comprehensive quantitative evaluation indicator for the added value brought by buildings. The effects beyond energy and utility cost reductions are referred to as "Non-Energy Benefits (NEBs™ (*1))", and the NEBs indicator and its quantification logic were announced in December 2023 (*2).

In recent years, with the realization of a decarbonized society and the response to soaring energy costs, energy saving in buildings has become an urgent issue for various industries and local communities. However, making buildings energy-efficient requires costs, and in some cases, it is difficult to justify the investment recovery.

To address these challenges, NTT FACILITIES has launched the "NEBs Portal Site," equipped with a function to calculate the effects (NEBs) of new construction and renovations of energy-saving buildings, such as improvements in intellectual productivity, health promotion, and talent acquisition/retention associated with building energy efficiency. Previously, calculating NEBs required numerous survey items and specialized knowledge, taking a significant amount of time. With this new function, NEBs effect values can now be calculated directly on the website, making it useful for tasks such as considering new construction or renovations of company buildings, particularly for general affairs departments.

In addition to the NEBs calculation function, the portal site clearly explains the purpose, calculation methods, and utilization of NEBs, along with case studies. By promoting the use of NEBs, we aim to support energy saving in buildings by companies and municipalities, thereby contributing to the decarbonization of society as a whole.

■ Overview

When promoting energy saving in buildings, multifaceted decision-making is required, including explaining the cost-effectiveness, gaining consensus among departments, and ensuring accountability to local residents and users.

NTT FACILITIES has opened the "NEBs Portal Site" to support the practical aspects of decision-making related to energy saving through new construction and renovation of buildings by companies and municipalities. This portal site provides an NEBs calculation function that easily quantifies added values (NEBs) such as "health and comfort," "productivity improvement," and "disaster resilience" brought about by energy-saving buildings, as well as explanations and case studies to easily learn the concept of NEBs.

Through the information dissemination and various functions provided by this portal site, we aim for NEBs to be utilized as a common indicator for appropriately evaluating the comprehensive value generated by energy saving in buildings, not only in promoting GX/ESG management by companies and municipalities but also in dialogue and evaluation processes with financial institutions and investors. In the future, this portal site will comprehensively support decision-making from planning and implementation to post-evaluation to accelerate the social implementation of NEBs.

■ NEBs Portal Site (https://www.ntt-f.co.jp/nebs/nebs-portal/)

■ About the NEBs Portal Site

This portal site supports the consideration and decision-making regarding energy saving in buildings by providing explanations on the purpose, calculation methods, and utilization of NEBs, a calculation function to quantitatively grasp NEBs, and case study/explanation content to understand specific utilization scenarios.

① NEBs Calculation Function

This function allows users to calculate NEBs simply by inputting building information, and can be used for considering energy saving in buildings, investment decisions, and promoting understanding among stakeholders. Two types are available: "Simple Version" and "Standard Version" (*3), which can be selected according to the intended use and stage of consideration.

The Simple Version is available without member registration. By inputting minimal information such as building type/size, ZEB performance, structure, and office conditions, users can estimate the approximate NEBs effect value for the target building, making it suitable for initial considerations and internal sharing.

The Standard Version allows for detailed calculation of NEBs effect values with more detailed condition settings. In addition to the input items for the Simple Version, by inputting information about the building's space, interior, and indoor sound, light, and air environment, a more accurate effect value can be calculated. This provides outputs useful for concrete decision-making, such as comparing multiple options and organizing cost-effectiveness.

Using the calculation function, a trial calculation for an office with energy-saving features (new construction, total floor area 20,000 sqm, 3,000 occupants, ZEB Oriented equivalent, RC structure) resulted in an estimated NEBs effect value of approximately 190 million yen per year and a combined effect value of energy benefits (EB) and NEBs of approximately 210 million yen per year (Figure 1, Figure 2).

The NEBs effect value is expected to be more than 7 times the effect value from utility cost reductions (approx. 26 million yen/year). Notably, effects such as "improved intellectual productivity," "internal awareness," "health promotion," and "increased real estate value" were significant.

② NEBs Utilization Case Studies

To help users understand the concept of NEBs and how it can be applied to considerations for new construction or renovation of their own office buildings, actual NEBs calculation and utilization case studies for existing buildings are published on the portal site.

In the future, we plan to feature new construction and renovation projects for various purposes, including offices, training facilities, production facilities, and public facilities (government buildings), and introduce the overview of each building and its NEBs calculation values.

We will continue to add the latest initiatives and knowledge from diverse regions and applications, supporting considerations for energy saving in buildings from the planning stage to enable users to visualize specific application methods and utilization of NEBs.

■ Information Dissemination Organization Accompanying the Launch of the NEBs Portal Site

With the launch of this portal site, the NEBs indicator items have been reviewed. Additionally, a new logo and brand colors have been created to communicate NEBs to a wider audience.

① Reorganization of Effect Items and Logic Update

The 12 NEBs indicators are currently organized into five groups: "Improvement of Human Resource Value," "Cost Reduction," "Improvement of Corporate Value," "Contribution to Business," and "Fulfillment of Social Responsibility" (*4). However, the positioning and wording of some indicators have been reviewed. This makes it easier to understand the value NEBs holds for each stakeholder and is structured for use in decision-making and explanation scenarios.

Furthermore, based on knowledge gained to date, the calculation logic for all 12 items has been updated since the press release in December 2024.

② Logo and Brand Colors

A new logo and brand colors have been created to visually convey the value and concept of NEBs. These logos and brand elements are designed to express the multifaceted value brought by NEBs and to be used consistently on this portal site and related materials. This ensures visual consistency in information dissemination regarding NEBs.

■ Future Outlook

Through this portal site and the new brand image, we will further promote the understanding, calculation, and utilization of NEBs, contributing to the improvement of investment quality in the building sector and the enhancement of value for companies, municipalities, and local communities. We will continue to enrich our content based on user feedback and aim to contribute to the coexistence of decarbonization and the creation of a prosperous society with a wide range of stakeholders.

■ About the NEBs Portal Site (Overview)

URL: https://www.ntt-f.co.jp/nebs/nebs-portal/

Launch Date: March 31, 2026

Content: NEBs Calculation Function (Simple Version/Standard Version), NEBs Explanations, Utilization Case Studies, etc.

Usage Fee: Free

*1: "NEBs™" is a trademark (pending application) of NTT FACILITIES INC.

*2: Jointly developed 12 indicators for comprehensive evaluation of benefits from new construction and renovation of energy-saving buildings - Quantifying secondary, indirect, and synergistic effects (NEBs) of energy-saving buildings such as "health promotion" and "intellectual productivity improvement" (December 11, 2023) https://www.ntt-f.co.jp/news/2023/20231211.html

*3: The NEBs calculation function can be used free of charge.

*4: Established and formulated 12 indicators for comprehensive evaluation of benefits from new construction and renovation of energy-saving buildings (December 2, 2024) https://www.ntt-f.co.jp/news/2024/20241202.html

This release is an initiative linked to "NTT G×Inno," the GX solution brand developed by the NTT Group.

URL: https://group.ntt/jp/group/nttgxinno

* "NTT G×Inno" is a registered trademark of NTT Corporation. It is an abbreviation for "NTT GX (Green Transformation) × Innovation," an initiative to drive innovation in the GX field through solutions provided to society and contribute to the realization of carbon neutrality by 2050.