Building in existing buildings: The new trend for sustainable real estate!

Building in existing buildings: The new trend for sustainable real estate!

More and more companies are focusing on renovating existing properties, which is seen as the new standard in the industry. The Building in Existing Association (BiB), which has over 180 members, actively promotes this trend Haufe reported. Sarah Dungs, the chairwoman of the BiB, emphasizes that the focus should not be on the size of the association, but on its impact. In this context, the association has launched a series of workshops that deliver concrete results.

The trend towards inventory renovation is favored by several factors. The main reasons include ecological land use, the resources cities are already using and the economic viability of this approach. The so-called Greyfield Index also shows a decline in new construction activity, while renovation measures remain stable. This could be a decisive contribution to solving the housing shortage, even if the locations are sometimes problematic and new buildings contradict the federal government's ecological goals.

Challenges and risks

Despite the advantages, the risks of building in existing buildings are no lower than those of new buildings, but they are different. In particular, working on existing properties requires special know-how. There is great potential for conversion, particularly in the office sector, as many office spaces are empty. However, converting these areas can be complicated because they are often not in residential areas.

A further step by the BiB is the development of a digital chatbot that is intended to support the evaluation of building permits and building regulations. In addition, workshops were set up with bank representatives, as the topic of building existing buildings is viewed critically by financial institutions. “We actively encourage participation and the exchange of knowledge among our members,” explains Dungs, expressing mixed optimism for the future: There is great potential in new business models.

Commitment to sustainability

The founding of the Association for Building in Existing Buildings on the initiative of the Greyfield Group aims to bundle heterogeneous competencies and promote a comprehensive, lifecycle-oriented understanding of building in existing buildings. The association wants to give a voice to the relevance of the inventory and thus ensure progress and market standards, such as FürbauerimIST.de determines.

A central concern is supporting the climate goals and the sustainability strategy of the Federal Republic of Germany. For this purpose, new market standards as well as adapted norms and regulations are being developed. The association is also committed to transparency through open CO2 accounting and publishes the CO2 balance.

The BiB is led by an experienced team, including Sarah Dungs as chairwoman, as well as Diana Anastasija Radke and Nicola Halder-Hass. Various members were founded who are committed to the development of sustainable construction methods in existing buildings.