Sustainability

Sustainability is threatening to become a catchall term, one that everyone uses without clearly defining what they mean by it - and, especially, what it is that they are doing. Bouwfonds has a clear vision on sustainability, which is not tied to the present or the past. In the 1970s, we were among the first to use housing insulation on a large scale. Today, we are still at the forefront of sustainable area development, a fact affirmed by the many awards we have won in this field.

In our view, sustainable (re)development of areas concerns:

• Environmental quality
• Spatial quality and cultural history
• Comfort and health
• Economic feasibility.

The optimum balance

We see a relation among these various elements: looking for the optimum balance between the (natural) environment, spatial planning and economics. From energy-free housing to attention for cultural history and identity: that is the core of our sustainability concept. People play a central role in this - people who are environmentally aware, who at the same time want to live comfortably and spend their leisure time in a green environment, now and in the future. In our view, this is possible, provided we collectively find the right balance. We are totally committed to this.             

Teamwork

For us, as a reliable and principled partner, sustainability also means entering into long-lasting, stable partnerships. In this way, we can make sure that we choose the best possible direction, in the interests of residents, commercial users and society as a whole.

Frontrunner in France

In France, Bouwfonds is a leader in sustainable development. Bouwfonds Marignan was the first property developer to receive certification in accordance with the 'Haute Qualité Environnementale', the most important French standard in this field. Bouwfonds Marignan projects have won many prestigious awards, including the 'Prix Régional de la Qualité de Vie au Naturel' and the 'Pyramide d'Or'. Intent on keeping its leading position, Bouwfonds Marignan is currently developing all its new projects on the basis of the 'Bâtiment Basse Consommation Energétique', a new, even more rigid energy standard.

Development above the German standard

In Europe, Germany is a front runner in developing and realising energy efficiënt housing. All of the Bouwfonds Immobilienentwicklung projects are being developed well above the German standard. By using various techniques such as solar collectors, geothermal pumps and district heating and a high degree of insulation, energy consumption of housing is greatly reduced. By doing so,  Bouwfonds realises houses which are up to 40% more energy efficient as the standard. Besides energy saving measures, in many projects the rainwater is drained above ground or stored to irrigate the garden. Bouwfonds is getting increasingly more involved in the development and realization of passive houses.