Together with building managers, Ingenium is taking up the challenge to make buildings carbon neutral by 2050. Besides the strict requirements imposed by Europe and the Flemish Government, important additional incentives are the long-term depreciation in value if no action is taken and the sharply increased energy prices that are already driving up facility costs.
Together with partners, Ingenium develops strategic plans for building managers with a budget and timetable to achieve a carbon-neutral patrimony. We look beyond the requirements of the legislator, investigate the possibilities in the field of energy exchange, and guard against greenwashing. The focus is on limiting energy demand as much as possible, phasing out gas-fired installations, and using renewable energy.
To calculate the carbon footprint of one or more buildings, various definitions and measurement tools are in circulation. Very often, reference is made to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol), an international standard. The protocol maps both direct emissions - from the buildings and transportation of the company or organization itself - and indirect emissions at the beginning and end of the value chain. By using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol as a framework, Ingenium ensures a standardized approach to efficiently and measurably address the issue of carbon neutral patrimony.
Many building owners are already concerned that buildings will eventually lose value if they do not undergo radical energy management. We notice this from the numerous questions we receive about this. Due to climate change, properties will become 'economically obsolete' because they will no longer meet efficiency standards and market expectations. Expensive renovation measures will then be imposed.
One tool that maps this risk is the CRREM: the Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor. Based on various parameters, CRREM determines how much a building is worth financially today and in the future, according to ever-increasing sustainability expectations. CCREM is a tool developed by the EU, which can be used by INGENIUM to screen a property manager's portfolio.
The Flemish government is a pioneer in this transition. An internal climate plan aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 55 percent and primary energy consumption by 35 percent in the use phase of buildings by 2030. By 2045, the buildings of the Flemish Government should be completely carbon neutral.
The Flemish government engages Ingenium, together with a partner, to perform condition state measurements and energy audits in its numerous buildings, including those of Sport Flanders. With a CO2-reduction tool, specially developed for the Flemish government, we map out in a visually attractive way the various energy-saving measures, the best time to implement them, the investment amount each time and the CO2 reduction of each measure.
The energy performance certificate for non-residential buildings (EPC NR) will make visible from 2023 whether the building meets the long-term objective of the Flemish Government, or at what "distance" from the long-term objective the building is. An energy label - on a scale from red (bad) to green (good) - shows the energy performance of the building. From Jan. 1, 2025, this EPC NR will become an obligation for all large non-residential buildings.
Of course, not only public authorities are caught by the European and Flemish climate ambitions. The tightened standards also apply to other owners and/or managers of various buildings, such as property developers, retailers, syndicates and industry.
Waiting for the downpour of compelling climate measures to come your way is certainly not an option. It is better to proactively anticipate what is coming, and to tackle the patrimony in a timely and phased manner. This will not only prevent facility costs from skyrocketing in the short term, but will also ensure that the buildings retain sufficient market value for the foreseeable future.
Want to know more about the transition to a carbon-neutral building heritage and how to approach it concretely? Contact Nico De Roeck on 050 40 45 30 or nico.deroeck@ingenium.be.
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