Sustainability Increases Value – TÜV Rheinland Supports Construction Projects from Planning to Certification

The real estate industry is responsible for high greenhouse gas emissions / Certified properties are more valuable and can be used more flexibly / TÜV Rheinland expertise in quality and sustainability / www.tuv.com/sustainable-real-estate-portfolios

The real estate industry consumes a lot of energy, from the production of building materials to the construction phase and use. Up to 40 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from this industry. “The potential for climate protection through sustainability measures in the real estate industry is correspondingly high,” says Ramona Schalek, Key Account Manager with a focus on sustainability at TÜV Rheinland. A climate-neutral building achieves a balanced CO2 footprint over its entire life cycle. This takes into account both emissions during construction and during ongoing operation.

Sustainability measures offer financial advantages for planners, operators, and users. According to the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), they increase property value by an average of seven percent. Certified buildings are easier to rent to international companies and are less likely to remain vacant for long periods of time. They are also more resilient to climate change, more environmentally friendly, healthier, and more flexible in terms of use.

The advantages of sustainability measures in construction apply regardless of current political frameworks and uncertainties. Europe remains one of the leading regions in the field of sustainable construction. According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), relevant certifications continue to be highly valued.

TÜV Rheinland tests and certifies

TÜV Rheinland tests and certifies buildings to support the construction industry on its path to sustainability and to promote climate protection in the construction sector. Among other things, the testing service provider offers services related to the EU taxonomy of buildings, such as independent audits and assessments of building sustainability as well as certifications in the field of sustainable construction. TÜV Rheinland supports in obtaining the DGNB certificate from the German Sustainable Building Council and the state quality seal “Sustainable Building” (QNG). Recently, services that enable the achievement of the BNK (assessment system for sustainable small residential construction) or the BNG (assessment system for sustainable buildings) certificate have also been added. In addition, TÜV Rheinland provides consulting on ESG criteria in the real estate industry.

Projects such as the construction of a new logistics center in the Rhine-Main area, Germany, and a construction project for four apartment buildings in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, illustrate how TÜV Rheinland supports sustainable construction projects. The provider of testing and inspection services is assisting with the logistics center, which has around 30,000 square meters of storage space, from the initial assessment of its certifiability to the audit in accordance with DGNB and QNG seals, with the aim of achieving the gold standard. The experts calculate the life cycle assessment and life cycle costs and measure the indoor air quality after completion. In the multi-family housing project, TÜV Rheinland employees also check the materials and building materials for harmful and hazardous substances.

TÜV Rheinland also conducts certifications based on international standards outside of Germany. Among other projects, warehouses in China are being certified according to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), one of the world’s most widely used certification systems.