Construction Management
“Decarbonisation“ has become a serious issue The far-reaching improvement of ecological sustainability will be the major technical and capex issue for investment properties in the coming years. And the financing for these investments can only be managed with timely planning and precisely defined priorities.
When it comes to the sustainability of investment properties, there are more open and answered questions. But one thing seems absolutely certain: Extensive ecological improvements are inevitable. The preparation of a property-specific catalogue of decarbonisation measures can no longer be delayed – in particular because careful planning can play an important role in addressing these major technical and financial challenges and, optimally, with an increase in value. Many different options are available, but implemen- ting all theoretically possible climate protection measures is neither necessary nor economically feasible. The overriding goal is to set clear priorities – “first things first” is the most important rule for a sustainability strategy in existing buildings that is also intended to be economically successful.
effective and cost-efficient measure. Taking all options into account (where possible) – in other words, improvements to the basement ceiling and the ceilings of undeveloped lofts or loft construc- tions – can reduce heating energy requirements by up to 80 per cent. l Basement ceiling: Optimising the thermal insulation over the basement is almost always possible from a construction standpoint. The percentage of heating requirements that can be saved by insulating the basement ceiling depends on various factors, for example the thickness and type of the insulation, the size of the basement and the building/ceiling construction. As a rule, insulating the base- ment ceiling can cut heating requirements by roughly 5 to 15 per cent – and, depending on the construction and materials, the costs range from EUR 80 to 120/sqm. l Roof: It is a well known fact that heat rises. The heat loss through the roof or ceiling in an undeveloped attic can be significant. The most effective insulation is, of course, the development of this area. If this is not economically feasible, conventio- nal insulation can be a cost-efficient method. Costs of EUR 50 to 80/sqm to insulate the top floor ceiling can reduce heating require- ments by 10 to 20 per cent.
„Setting clear priorities is essential “
The development of a cost/ benefit optimised sustainability plan for an investment property should start with an analysis of the most import- ant opportunities for improvement. Decisions for or against certain investments should, in the end, always be based on the specific location condi- tions.
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Thermal insulation
In 99 of 100 cases, the reduction of energy consumption with better insulation is the most
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