Sustainable Construction and Refurbishment

Our subsidiary BUWOG is responsible for Vonovia’s development activities. It is active in the development of attractive, sustainable and diverse residential neighborhoods in Germany and Austria, and is involved in the densification of buildings as part of the development of existing neighborhoods. Our focus is on the development of large, inner-city properties in major cities (“brownfield projects”) that meet a whole range of requirements. Through these projects, we aim to increase housing supply while minimizing surface sealing.

The development branch has established a comprehensive sustainability strategy that delineates specific requirements, incorporating guidelines, specifications, and tools across 14 focus areas to address all aspects of sustainability in new construction. These include optimized heat supply within neighborhoods, utilization of ecological building materials, and designs for open spaces. In Germany, our starting point is to exceed legally mandated building efficiency standards by at least 10%, while in Austria, we adhere to the fundamental 'klimaaktiv' criteria. Our Building Information Modeling (BIM) strategy enables us to comprehensively understand the entire lifecycle of our neighborhoods, facilitating the development of additional measures.

Wherever possible, we prioritize revitalizing existing real estate and urbanized spaces through 'brownfield projects.' Rather than developing new building grounds, our focus is on reusing and revitalizing already sealed or urbanized areas. Examples include the Main Au neighborhood in Hanau and the Wohnwerk in Niederschönweide, Berlin, where abandoned industrial sites are transformed into modern residential neighborhoods featuring new green spaces and biotopes. In the Münsterberger Weg project in Berlin, approximately two-thirds of the previously sealed area will be restored as part of the development concept .

A digitalization project has resulted in the integration of skills across our German and Austrian construction units and the standardized implementation of the Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology. This collaboration between the two countries will facilitate mutual learning and ensure that developments are leveraged across multiple projects. Consequently, we have set a goal to establish a unified Group-wide BIM strategy that will consolidate expertise and enable centralized, focused management of this digital approach.

The implementation of the sustainability strategy in development is being standardized as a process, incorporating topic-specific tools to ensure that sustainability aspects of new construction projects are planned, executed, and monitored in a focused manner.

To minimize the environmental impact of construction, it is imperative to reduce the energy and resource-intensive production of new materials, increase the recycling of construction materials, and utilize more materials made from recycled products. At Vonovia, sustainability is prioritized across all phases of our construction projects. We are committed to employing environmentally friendly raw materials, adopting sustainable production processes, and integrating eco-friendly construction materials in new construction, refurbishment, and demolition.

We are placing increasing importance on the recyclability of materials and products. The construction materials we utilize should be reusable and highly recyclable. Sustainable buildings, such as modular timber or hybrid constructions, allow for structures to be dismantled and returned to their original components, resulting in lower energy consumption and reduced CO2 emissions. These methods are increasingly integrated into our construction projects. 

We integrate life cycle assessments that calculate the CO2 footprint across the entire life cycle—from the manufacturing of construction materials to operation and final demolition—as well as accounting for gray emissions, into our planning process. These assessments are based on our analysis of climate impacts and energy consumption associated with six different building construction methods .

Our planning departments integrate the respective CO2 footprint, determined during the early project phases, into their designs. Implementing proven sustainable construction projects enables us to leverage subsidies in financing and attain certifications for sustainable construction.

The main question posed in Vonovia's sustainable construction dialogue process, "A Look at the Future of Construction," focused on how new buildings could be constructed in a more climate-friendly and sustainable manner. The dialogue process commenced with a kick-off meeting in March 2022, bringing together representatives from industry, research, and politics. The series of events concluded with a symposium on November 23, 2022, held at Futurium Berlin, attended by approximately 300 participants. The spotlight was on collaborative solutions developed during the dialogue process. 

Working groups comprised of participants from our departments, alongside industry experts and the Fraunhofer Institute, have been diligently working on innovative approaches across various focal points since spring. These efforts are intended to translate into specific measures and objectives for the future. Additionally, specific calls were made to policymakers to promote sustainable construction practices. 

Sustainable mobility concepts are integral to our development initiatives. We promote sustainable mobility in our projects through various accessible options. For instance, the Helio Tower in Vienna's urban development area 'The Marks' features a unique bicycle arcade, accommodating 2,000 bicycles across the site, including 652 spots designated for the tower. On average, we allocate 1.8 bicycle parking spots per newly constructed apartment. Additionally, we provide a car-sharing program with electric cars, city bikes, and electric cargo bikes, along with up to 27 e-charging stations equipped with intelligent load management in BUWOG's parking garage. New buildings constructed in the reporting year are conveniently accessible from public transport, typically within a four-minute walk.