Why economic viability depends on sustainability

We can currently see a great deal of uncertainty in the property sector when it comes to sustainability and ESG. Where does that come from?

Laws and regulations are currently changing frequently, and in some cases quite fundamentally, too. The consequence is that many choose to hold off on potential projects or initiatives until they know which direction things are heading or how these projects will be assessed in, say, a year’s time. This is understandable, but unfortunately it is holding back many important developments..

As a result of this, and also due to the economic situation, the focus has shifted back towards immediate cost-effectiveness. Investments are often only made if they are immediately necessary or offer a fast ROI. Sustainability measures often have a long-term impact and are quickly pushed to the back of the queue.

Yet acting sustainably is not an end in itself, nor has it become any less important if the industry wants to contribute to a future worth living in.

Absolutely! That is why it is now more important than ever to counter the uncertainty mentioned above with a clear message: sustainability and cost-effectiveness are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, they are interdependent. If your aim is to save money, focusing on sustainability is not optional, because there is huge economic potential in optimising buildings. Those who introduce appropriate measures today will benefit both ecologically and economically in the very near future, whereas hesitation and procrastination may, in the worst case, affect the property’s value and prove very costly.

Current global events should also serve as a wake-up call. We can currently see just how quickly operating costs can skyrocket – due to rising gas prices, for example – without us having much influence over it. Energy savings have a massive direct financial impact, which links cost-effectiveness and sustainability even more closely.

In Germany, the GEG will soon be replaced by the GMG, while the European EPBD still defines the overall framework. How do meteoviva’s solutions help to navigate this confusion?

Our solutions simply cover all the requirements of the European Energy Performance Buildings Directive. Since national regulations – no matter what they are called – are based on this directive and must comply with it, our customers are on the safe side. In short: we ensure that they simply don’t have to deal with the hassle at all. That’s what we’re here for, and we’ve been in the business for a long time – that is the expertise you get with us.

At the same time, even our most basic solution, tmon, includes the necessary infrastructure for potentially larger optimisations such as predictive control or demand-side management. These not only go beyond the minimum requirements of the EPBD but also offer greater potential for savings. We therefore analyse which solution offers the best cost-benefit ratio on a case-by-case basis for every project.