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INSIGHTS
BUILDING OWNERS ADVOCATE
FOR ENERGY & CARBON REDUCTION
Welcome to
our thought leadership library!
The OptiBuild Thought Leadership Library brings you articles and real-world lessons from Octavian Vasilovici, focused on energy efficiency and operational carbon reduction—practical guidance for owners, operators, and project leads.
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Embodied Carbon & Investor Pressure: Why Life-Cycle Matters More Than Ever
the planet gets destroyed by commercial real estate due to its carbon footprint.

Octavian Vasilovici
Dec 52 min read


Power Is the New Location: Why Energy Access Defines Building Value
The next real estate advantage isn’t location — it’s energy. Reliable, affordable, and clean power now drives leasing, valuation, and resilience. Discover how smart owners are future-proofing assets in an electrified economy.

Octavian Vasilovici
Nov 173 min read


Technology Without the Hype: What Actually Drives ROI for Building Owners
The future of buildings isn’t about more technology — it’s about smarter choices. Learn how to separate proven ROI tools from expensive distractions, and why strategy — not software — defines the next generation of smart buildings.

Octavian Vasilovici
Nov 104 min read


Capital Planning for 20-Year-Old Buildings: Turning Mid-Life Upgrades into Value
Your building might look fine — but at 20 years, hidden wear tells another story. Discover the five systems that define a property’s “mid-life crisis” and how smart owners turn aging infrastructure into long-term value.

Octavian Vasilovici
Nov 33 min read


Carbon Pricing and Compliance for Buildings: Turning Regulation Into Opportunity
Carbon pricing is no longer theoretical — it’s already shaping valuations, financing, and compliance standards across Canada. Learn how proactive owners are turning carbon from a cost into a competitive advantage.

Octavian Vasilovici
Oct 283 min read


Tenant Retention in 2025: How Comfort, Health, and Sustainability Drive Renewals
Tenant expectations are evolving fast. Comfort, air quality, and sustainability now drive lease renewals and asset value. Learn how proactive owners are turning tenant experience into their most effective retention strategy.

Octavian Vasilovici
Oct 213 min read


Why Delaying Commercial Building Upgrades Is Costing You More Than You Think
Across Canada’s aging building stock, “waiting one more year” on upgrades has become one of the most expensive decisions owners can make. Rising energy costs, carbon rules, and tenant demands are rewriting the math on inaction.

Octavian Vasilovici
Oct 73 min read


From Expense to Advantage: How Heat Pumps and Solar Are Reshaping Canadian Multi-Unit Housing
Heat pumps and solar power are no longer experimental in Canada. They are proven strategies that cut operating costs, reduce carbon risk, and deliver healthier living spaces. For Halifax and other Canadian MURB owners, these technologies now offer a clear path from expense to advantage.

Octavian Vasilovici
Sep 303 min read


Hyperscalers Move In: Big Players, Big Energy, Big Deals
Hyperscalers like Google and Microsoft are rewriting the rules of real estate. In the AI era, owning land is not enough—value comes from pairing property with clean, reliable power. Here is what building owners and investors need to know.

Octavian Vasilovici
Sep 94 min read


What Building Owners Can Learn from Rogers’ Exit from Data Centres
Rogers’ decision to sell its data centres was not a retreat from technology. It was a strategic reset. The move highlights a valuable lesson for building owners: you do not always have to own the infrastructure to capture its value.

Octavian Vasilovici
Sep 23 min read


Smarter Buildings Start Here: How AI is Delivering Real ROI Right Now
AI isn’t the future of building ops—it’s already here. Learn where to start, what to automate, and how to unlock measurable returns.

Octavian Vasilovici
Aug 263 min read


Overcoming the Real Barriers to Adaptive Reuse: A Practical Framework for Building Owners
Adaptive reuse is full of obstacles—but they’re solvable. Learn how to navigate financial, regulatory, and stakeholder challenges with clarity.

Octavian Vasilovici
Aug 193 min read


The Business Case for Deep Retrofit: How to Increase Asset Value, Slash Carbon, and Strengthen ESG Positioning
Deep retrofits boost building value, cut emissions, and future-proof assets. Learn how to plan, model ROI, and unlock long-term returns.

Octavian Vasilovici
Aug 123 min read


Adaptive Reuse: How Strategic Repurposing Can Future-Proof Your Building Portfolio
Adaptive reuse turns underperforming buildings into resilient assets. Learn how to assess, plan, and execute reuse with strategic clarity.

Octavian Vasilovici
Aug 53 min read


Treat Your Building Like a Business. Because It Is
Most owners see buildings as costs to manage. Smart ones treat them like businesses to optimize. This article explores how top commercial owners lead with strategy—and get rewarded with performance.

Octavian Vasilovici
Jul 303 min read


Smart Building Owner’s Roadmap – Phase 5: Monitor, Optimize, Repeat – Keeping Your Building at Peak Performance
Retrofits aren’t set-and-forget. In Phase 5 of the Smart Building Owner’s Roadmap, learn how to monitor, report, and continuously improve performance — so your upgrades keep paying off year after year.

Octavian Vasilovici
Jul 152 min read


Smart Building Owner’s Roadmap – Phase 4: Invest with Impact – How to Prioritize, Fund, and Execute Smarter Retrofits
Many building owners stall after the planning stage. In Phase 4 of the Smart Building Owner’s Roadmap, we show you how to move from strategy to execution—prioritizing upgrades, securing funding, and launching retrofits that deliver real, lasting value.

Octavian Vasilovici
Jul 82 min read


Smart Building Owner’s Roadmap – Phase 3: Boosting Asset Value Through Carbon Cuts and Tenant Wellness
Cut carbon. Boost tenant wellness. Phase 3 reveals how sustainable, healthy buildings drive real, lasting asset value.

Octavian Vasilovici
Jul 12 min read


Smart Building Owner’s Roadmap – Phase 1: Establishing Clarity Before You Spend a Dime
Phase 1 of Optibuild’s Smart Building Owner’s Roadmap starts with two powerful steps: a rapid audit and stakeholder engagement. Learn how these early moves bring clarity, uncover hidden savings, and set the foundation for smarter upgrades in aging commercial buildings.

Octavian Vasilovici
Jun 172 min read


Build First, Subsidize Second: A Smarter Way to Fix Canada’s Housing Crisis
Canada’s housing programs were designed to fix affordability—but many developers say they’re doing the opposite. This article explores how rigid rent mandates are killing rental projects, shrinking supply, and pushing builders out of the game—and what smarter, market-aligned policy could look like instead.

Octavian Vasilovici
Jun 34 min read

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