At Real Estate & Construction Forum 2026, Răzvan Nica, CEO of BuildGreen and CarbonTool, spoke about 2026 as a pivotal year not only for sustainability standards, but for the way the industry applies technology to real assets. His message was that  we’re moving from experimentation to integration. 

From product development to integration 

Răzvan highlighted that CarbonTool is BuildGreen’s digital counterpart, created to translate sustainability expertise into scalable workflows. After roughly four years of IT development, he expects 2026 to be the year when the two directions visibly merge into a stronger, unified offer, serving the building sector more effectively by combining consulting depth with a product mindset. 

AI as the next operational shift 

Răzvan also addressed the topic that everyone is discussing, namely AI. He treated AI not as hype, but as a real evolution in the IT space, one that will shape how building teams work. Importantly, he connected AI to a broader sequence of disruptions the office sector has already had to absorb: first the pandemic, then the energy crisis. Both forced rapid adaptation, operationally and financially, pushing buildings to re-think health and well-being, energy efficiency and resilience. 

Digital proof for decarbonization and reporting 

Another major driver for digital adoption in 2026 is the simultaneous shift in major certification systems to new versions. When certification criteria become more aligned with decarbonization expectations, the demand for structured data and repeatable evidence increases. That’s where digital tools can unlock speed and consistency, turning scattered building information into auditable, decision-ready datasets. 

Finally, Răzvan Nica drew a clear link between decarbonization and reporting. Reporting is often treated as administrative; decarbonization is the substance. But the two reinforce each other.  The more you measure, implement and verify carbon-reduction actions, the more credible your reporting becomes. 

For CarbonTool, the RECF takeaway is straightforward: 2026 is when technology stops sitting next to sustainability and starts becoming part of how sustainability is delivered. AI will matter, certification shifts will matter and existing buildings will matter most, because that’s where the biggest performance gains live.