MIKE MUSTAPHA
ENERGY TRANSITION
New builds often get the spotlight when it comes to sustainable innovation. But real sustainability comes from improving and retrofitting the buildings that already exist.
Almost 80 % of the buildings that will exist in 2050 are already built. The best opportunity is to upgrade what’ s here instead of starting over.
Mike Mustapha, President of ABB Smart Buildings, questions the focus on surface-level smartness of buildings and calls for a shift toward adaptability and long-term resilience.
Building owners can move from simply using energy to actively participating in the energy grid, but they need systems that work well together and are designed for the long term, rather than just adding new technology. By choosing solutions that adapt to tenant needs and changing regulations, stakeholders can keep their assets valuable and better handle the challenges of climate change.
Q. WHY DO YOU THINK THE MARKET REMAINS SO OBSESSED WITH NEW BUILDS AND WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO BREAK THAT MINDSET?
» New buildings are exciting. We can showcase the latest technology, design around modern expectations and demonstrate what is possible.
But there is a fundamental reality we cannot ignore: nearly 80 % of the buildings that will exist in 2050 are already standing today. If we are serious about energy efficiency, resilience and decarbonisation, the future is not something we build from scratch. The future is something we upgrade.
I spend a lot of time with building owners and operators, and many are responsible for buildings that are 20, 30, even 50 years old. These buildings were not designed for today’ s energy demands, occupancy patterns or sustainability expectations. Yet they remain critical assets.
The industry’ s mindset begins to shift when people stop viewing existing buildings as a constraint and start viewing them as an opportunity. Some of the most impressive transformations I have seen have happened in buildings that were never considered“ smart” to begin with. The focus was not on adding technology for technology’ s sake. It was on making the building more responsive, efficient and valuable over time.
MIKE MUSTAPHA
TITLE: PRESIDENT SMART BUILDINGS DIVISION
COMPANY: ABB INDUSTRY: CONSTRUCTION
Mike is passionate about building and transforming businesses in new markets. Focused on driving sustainable growth, market-leading solutions and customer service, he is committed to enabling customer success through strong partnership networks.
80 September 2026