Sustainability

Sustainability in the real estate sector

Sustainability

Deka Immobilien: Focusing on sustainability

Deka Immobilien created a separate business-related sustainability strategy based on the DekaBank principles for sustainable corporate governance in order to lend the issue of sustainability appropriate significance in our Company.

Central elements and key points of our operating activities:

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general reduction in CO2 emissions,
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greater inclusion of green contract clauses in property, facility and lease agreements,
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reduction of operating costs using sustainable management and energy renovations
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integration of environmental and social concerns and good corporate governance into processes related to real estate and fund management.

Accompanying communication about our activities and their presentation in internal and external media is another important element.

Sustainability Report 2018

For a detailed report, please see the Deka Group Sustainability Report.

Codes and memberships

BVI (German Investment Fund Association) guidelines for sustainable portfolio management and ZIA (German Property Association) industry code

By accepting the BVI guidelines for sustainable portfolio management and ZIA industry code, we document our commitment to sustainability using a continuous optimisation process. The goal of the guidelines and code is to increase the transparency and valuation of sustainability for real estate and real estate portfolios.

BVI guidelines for sustainable real estate portfolio management (in German)

ZIA sustainability in the real estate industry – code, reports and compliance (in German)

UN Global Compact and German Sustainability Code

Deka Immobilien formally recognised the UN Global Compact and German Sustainability Code in 2015.
 
The United Nations Global Compact is the largest and most important initiative for responsible corporate governance in the world. Based on 10 universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour standards, environmental protection and the prevention of corruption, it promotes a vision of an inclusive and sustainable global economy that benefits all people, communities and markets today and in the future.
 
The German Sustainability Code was prepared by the German Council for Sustainable Development after extensive dialogue with representatives of corporate groups and medium-sized companies, as well as financial analysts and financial service providers. Its aim is to develop a declaration on the environmental, social and economic dimension of sustainability, including criteria for sustainable corporate governance, that can be easily implemented and applied to the key elements of the business model of a company.

Sustainability filter for the fund liquidity investment universe

Developed with the sustainability rating agency imug in Hanover, the EIRES (Ethical Investment Research Service) database has been used to check every transaction for violations of the following criteria since the beginning of 2018:

  • Environment & biodiversity
    Failure to adequately address serious environmental scandals
  • Ozone-depleting chemicals
    Production and sale of ozone-depleting chemicals without an exit scenario
  • Controversial weapons/armaments
    Production of controversial weapons or relevant system components and offering services
    (cluster bombs, anti-personnel mines)
  • Human rights & worker rights
    Failure to appropriately address violations of international human rights conventions or key ILO labour standards (child labour, forced labour, discrimination, freedom of assembly)
  • Money laundering
    Failure to appropriately address cases of money laundering
  • Corruption
    Failure to appropriately address cases of corruption and bribery

Further information on our memberships is available here:

Overview of our Memberships

IRE|BS meta-study provides evidence that sustainability provides added value

The meta-study was the first to examine and evaluate sustainability based on 70 scientific studies. It examined and presented the added value resulting from a sustainability orientation at the property, portfolio and company levels. National and international results for various types of use were included. All of the studies confirm that the potential benefits measurably exceed the additional costs.

Rating confirms sustainability orientation

The annual rating of all major open-ended German real estate funds performed by the Scope rating agency (Scope-Rating) on 05/06/2019 once again recognised the steady very high sustainability orientation of our funds and very high certification ratio versus the industry as a measure for maintaining property value and marketability.

Certifications

Certification of a large number of our fund properties is an important part of our commitment to sustainability. This focus on sustainability in the building sector is based on a comprehensive approach to the property life cycle using environmentally-friendly technologies, while ensuring profitability at all times. Property sustainability certificates allow compliance with sustainability criteria to be measured and compared based on nationally established and internationally recognised certification systems. These include, for example, the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM*), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) and the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB).

* BREEAM is a registered trademark of BRE (the Building Research Establishment Ltd. Community Trade Mark E5778551). The BREEAM marks, logos and symbols are the Copyright of BRE and are reproduced by permission.

Sustainable Portfolio

We focus on sustainability and our high quality portfolio boasts 233 certified sustainable properties at the end of 2018, including, for example “The Edge” in Amsterdam, “Kings Place” in London, “Tower 185” in Frankfurt or the newly constructed 1 St Peters Square, in Manchester. As at the end of 2018, certified buildings represented 69 per cent or EUR 24.9 billion of our global real estate assets under management. total real estate assets are certified. Thus, our »Certification Ratio« has more than doubled in the past five years.

Deka-ImmobilienEuropa recognised as No.1 for sustainability-certified buildings

A Scope report issued at the end of 2018 confirmed the sustainable orientation of Deka’s open-ended real estate mutual funds. It shows that Deka-ImmobilienEuropa’s certification rate of 82.4 per cent was the highest of the 14 funds examined. WestInvest InterSelect was in second place with 78.1 per cent.

Read more. Scope Report, 28.12.2018 „Portfolios werden nachhaltiger – Zertifizierungsquoten steigen“

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“Kings Place” in London wins 2017 BREEAM Award

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The building itself is already unusual. Located directly on the Regent Canal in London, the property includes office space as well as a restaurant, art and event areas and a theatre. Building management received an “Outstanding” rating under the BREEAM In-Use rating system, achieving the highest score ever granted in the United Kingdom. The building implements a well-thought-out sustainability design with features ranging from showers for bicycle riders to support green travel, to a green roof to improve biodiversity.
“Kings Place” received the 2017 BREEAM Award in the Office In-Use category in March 2017.

BREEAM AWARDS 2017

“The Edge” in Amsterdam sets new sustainability standards

BREEAM certification “Outstanding“

At the highest level in technology, design, and sustainability. The sophisticated design, combined with smart and advanced technology, resulted in a 98.36% sustainability score for the building, the highest score ever recorded worldwide by BREEAM.

Orientation

The building’s orientation is based on the path of the sun.

Path of the sun

The building is designed with the path of the sun in mind, allowing around 1,800 m² of solar panels to be used in the façade and on the roof. The energy that is generated is used for charging electric cars and powering the geothermal system that provides independent heating and cooling for the building.

Energy concept

The energy concept for the interior areas allows smartphones to be used to individually regulate the light and temperature at each workplace.

Atrium

The Edge’s majestic atrium not only offers plenty of places to meet, but it also provides natural ventilation, allowing stale air to rise and exit through the roof.

Deka Immobilien’s “The Edge” property in the Zuidas district of Amsterdam is one of the most innovative buildings in the world. “The Edge” received BREEAM New Construction sustainability certification with a rating of “Outstanding”, and in December 2014 achieved the highest score received so far for a sustainable office building anywhere in the world. In 2016, “The Edge” office building won the BREEAM Award in the "Office New Construction" category.

BREEAM AWARDS 2016

“Skylight” in Frankfurt receives LEED® for Commercial Interiors Platinum certification.

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“Skylight” is one of the first office buildings in Frankfurt am Main to be equipped throughout with LED lighting with daylight-dependent regulation. This decreases power consumption by around 70 percent, which is the equivalent to reducing CO2 emissions by 190 tonnes a year. The property received LEED® Platinum for Commercial Interiors certification.

Skylight

“Silvers” in Düsseldorf receives LEED Platinum certification following revitalisation

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The “Silvers” is the first existing property in Düsseldorf to receive Platinum rating – the highest level of LEED certification. An energy-oriented renovation introduced energy- and water-saving equipment and grey water use. High quality interior and exterior communication areas and additional green areas in the external grounds are used to create a pleasant environment.

Silvers

See our galleries for a selection of other certified “green buildings”.

Selection of certified buildings in Germany:

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LEED Gold for the “Westend Sky” in Frankfurt

Following an extensive repositioning by Deka Immobilien, the building received LEED Gold certification for Core & Shell and meets the highest standards with respect to functionality, sustainability and a healthy indoor environment. In addition to an extensive energy-oriented renovation of the façade and building services, the floor plan was designed to provide modern office environments to meet tenant requirements. The newly designed exterior grounds provide a significantly larger amount of green space to create a pleasant environment.

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“Tower 185” in Frankfurt am Main

The building was completed in 2011 and offers more than 100,000 m² of leasable space and 552 parking spaces. The building is the fourth tallest office building in Germany, is centrally located on Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage in the city centre and offers excellent access by public and private transport. It is leased to more than 20 high quality tenants with international interests under long-term leases. The main tenant is PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The building has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification.

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“Fleethof” in Hamburg provides high level of user comfort

The “Fleethof”, a prestigious 6-story office and commercial building located in Hamburg city centre, received “BREEAM DE Bestand” (BREEAM In-Use based on German standards and norms) sustainability certification with a rating of “Very Good”. The assessment particularly stressed the high level of user workplace comfort and good access by public transport.

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“Windows” in Stuttgart

The “Windows” property at Theodor-Heuss-Straße 5, Stuttgart, has received BREEAM DE (Asset) certification with a rating of “Very Good”. The main reasons for the rating included its maintenance strategy, security concept and highly flexible layout and services.

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“Eleven” in Hamburg receives LEED Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance Gold.

The “Eleven” office building in Hamburg has received LEED® Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance Gold certification. Tenant cooperation and investments in water efficiency and non-smoker protection were needed to achieve this. 75 percent of the tenants use public transport, thereby documenting the sustainability of the location.

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Helfmann-Park 1, Eschborn

The property at Helfmann-Park 1, Eschborn, was granted BREEAM DE (Asset und Building Management) certification with a rating of “Good”. Installation of new central cooling equipment in 2013 allowed annual energy savings of 25 percent.

Selection of certified  buildings in Europe and overseas:

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"Verde SW1" in London

This multi-tenant building in Victoria, a submarket of London West End, was built using climate-efficient materials in accordance with the latest standards. The “Ecodriver” energy platform allows proactive building energy management. The property also has a centralised waste management system controlled by an external service provider that ensures the greatest possible waste reduction. The building has received BREEAM “Excellent” certification for sustainability.

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LEED Platinum for the tallest building in Austria

DC Tower 1 combines architectural aesthetics and an advanced “green” design and functionality. The tallest hotel and office building in Austria uses energy-saving lighting and air cooling, and zone activation and heat recovery in its ventilation systems. The tower also has a photovoltaic system and a free-cooling system that uses resources available in the environment for cooling.

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“Atrium One” in Warsaw

This office and retail property is located in the heart of the capital city of Poland, right next to a subway and streetcar station. “Atrium One” has received LEED Platinum certification in the Core & Shell category, making it one of the “greenest” properties in the CEE region. The building contributes to sustainability by conserving energy and water, using the heat of the earth as regenerative and geothermal energy for heating and cooling, and making use of rainwater and grey water.

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"City Green Court" in Prague

This eight-storey office and commercial building in Prague is the first building to receive LEED Platinum certification in the Czech Republic. Energy is conserved by using automatic lighting that depends on the light conditions outside the building. Rainwater is reused to conserve water. The large atrium uses natural ventilation.

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Torre Titanium La Portad

This office tower has received LEED Gold certification for Core & Shell. It is located in the centre of the capital city of Santiago, Chile, and is one of the tallest and most modern buildings in South America. In addition to a good strategic location with respect to public transport, there are also close to 300 bicycle parking places available, and electric car parking places with charging stations. High-efficiency curtain walls ensure optimal lighting conditions and minimise solar insolation.

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“Cannon Place” in London

The striking, fully glazed landmark building is located in the heart of London City, directly above the Cannon Street Metro Station. The building has more than 200 secure bicycle parking spots and is therefore ideal for commuters. The building has received BREEAM In-Use (Asset) “Excellent” sustainability certification.

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1 St Peters Square, Manchester

The newly constructed office building at 1 St Peters Square, Manchester, includes a highly efficient building management system, offers excellent access by public and private transport and received BREEAM New Construction certification with a rating of “Excellent”.

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“Gerngross Shopping Centre” in Vienna

The traditional Gerngross department store at Mariahilfer Straße 42-48, Vienna, received BREEAM Europe Commercial Retail sustainability certification with a rating of “Good” after an energy-efficient renovation during normal operations.

OUTLOOK

Deka Immobilien's commitment to sustainability was further developed in 2017, and five guidelines were defined for its sustainability activities.
 
Our guidelines for future action:

  • Use energy management to increase tenant loyalty, e.g. by reducing the operating expenses of suitable properties
  • Use sustainability as a tool for optimising returns, e.g. by reducing tenant fit-out costs
  • Create a positive image as a provider of sustainable real estate, e.g. by ensuring and, if possible, improving rating results
  • Anchor social responsibility in the day-to-day business, e.g. by integrating strategic and operational sustainability factors in the investment process
  • Fulfil sustainability-related regulatory requirements

Downloads

  • Key Figures 2018

    Here you can find our most important sustainability key figures.

  • Environmental policy

    Discover more about the DekaBank environmental guidelines.

  • Code of Ethics

    The Code represents the binding general frame-work for the activities of employees and third parties who act in the name of the Deka-Group.

  • Archive

    Here you can find the environmental reports of Deka till 2013. Since 2014 the environmental report is included into the sustainability report. Both formats can be downloaded from the archive.

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