Area 1
Sustainable Products and Services
- Sustainability a long tradition at HOCHTIEF in Germany and internationally
- Clients benefit from focused R&D
- Compelling examples of green building and sustainable construction services
Sustainable construction is increasingly widespread in Europe, the USA and Australia. The economic and financial crisis has heightened quality awareness and the need to cut building operating costs. Buildings not only account for up to 40 percent of total energy consumption, they also generate up to two thirds of urban carbon emissions. Sustainable or green building thus has many benefits and is becoming more and more attractive: It can lower operating costs, saves energy and helps conserve the environment. Building users enjoy a significantly more agreeable working and living environment. On the bottom line, all of this enhances rental potential and hence investors’ returns. What is more, if sustainability aspects are properly integrated into the planning process, the construction cost need not exceed that of conventional buildings. According to recent findings from consultants Jones Lang LaSalle, over 40 percent of German companies plan to place greater emphasis on climate protection as a criterion when looking at new premises. In its Global Green Building Trends Report 2008, Naseba forecasts that the number of green buildings will multiply at a “phenomenal” rate in the next ten years. The experts project high growth rates for Europe especially. Our US subsidiary Turner comes to similar conclusions in its Green Building Market Barometer 2008, reporting that 72 percent of potential investors think building the green way will raise the value of real estate. HOCHTIEF estimates that from 2010, hardly any major building contracts will be under taken without some sustainability features.
Sustainability a tradition at HOCHTIEF
For HOCHTIEF, green building is far from a passing trend. We have long been designing and building to above-average environmental standards and applying an integrated approach spanning the real estate life cycle from end to end. This is illustrated by projects such as the Commerzbank headquarters in Frankfurt, which was completed as early as the beginning of the 1990s. The property was
constructed with health-friendly materials and set standards with trailblazing energy-saving ventilation and air conditioning systems. Sky gardens form a climatic buffer zone in the Commerzbank tower and provide inspiration for subsequent projects to this day.
We also promote sustainable, resource-conserving construction through systematic knowledge transfer across our global HOCHTIEF network. Such efforts are furthered by our “one roof” policy of housing all units that are in the same locality in one shared building. Having everything on one site enables constant interchange and makes it possible to join forces in solution development. Plus, our wideranging service portfolio is made fully visible to clients. Integrated, interdisciplinary ways of working also mean we can reap valuable synergies. A case in point is the new comprehensive school building under construction in Cologne’s Rodenkirchen district. HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions is building the entire complex with up-to-the-minute environment-friendly features such as photovoltaics and heat pumps. HOCHTIEF Construction is erecting the building and HOCHTIEF Facility Management is in charge of running it. Innovative technology will ensure that the new, sustainable building secures energy savings of some 26 percent on electricity and cost savings of no less than 29 percent on heating despite an 18 percent larger space footprint than its predecessor. HOCHTIEF Facility Management is responsible for the school’s operation until 2034. Knowledge and experience gained at Rodenkirchen will be put to constructive use in other HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions projects in the UK, Ireland and Germany.
International commitment
HOCHTIEF practices green building the world over. Our subsidiary Turner has established market leadership in US green building. Companies in the business portfolio of our subsidiary Leighton are likewise increasingly successful with green building in Australia.