• The aim of the large-scale study is to test the proposed technical evaluation criteria for circular economy for their applicability in practice.
• Projects of INVESTER United Benefits have been awarded the ÖGNI certificate several times. This makes INVESTER United Benefits the best possible participant for the study on EU taxonomy
• The feasibility study will be completed in December 2022 and is the foundation of future developments in the EU construction sector

(Vienna, September 8, 2022) As a pioneer among project developers in the field of sustainable construction in Austria, the project developer INVESTER United Benefits is one of the few participants from Austria taking part in the current Europe-wide EU Taxonomy Study. For this purpose, the development arm of United Benefits Holding is taking part in interviews, outlining example projects and providing data. CEO Michael Klement attaches great importance to the study for the EU and the company's own ESG strategy: "The study gives us the opportunity to provide the EU with feedback from the field and, if necessary, to suggest important changes. On the other hand, participation helps us internally to optimize our criteria and structures. Participation is a fixed date for us - as a pioneer in the sustainability sector." The study started in March 2022 and the evaluation is scheduled for December 2022.

The EU Taxonomy study is part of the EU Green Deal, which aims to make Europe climate-friendly and achieve the ambitious CO2 targets by 2050. "We support the EU action plan and want to contribute to an efficient implementation. In order to create practical EU regulations for tomorrow, we need to realistically grasp today what can be implemented at all," says CEO of INVESTER United Benefits Michael Clement on the occasion of the participation.

ÖGNI and CPEA control the study

The Austrian Society for Sustainable Real Estate (ÖGNI), under the leadership of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), is conducting the study with other members of the Umbrella Organization for Sustainable Building (WorldGBC) and the Climate Positive Alliance (CPEA) using a questionnaire. The CPEA is a non-profit, membership-based think tank based in Brfüssel. Its founding members are the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), ÖGNI, the Green Building Council España (GBCe) and the European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Association (REHVA). ÖGNI conducts interviews with the Austrian participants of the study on evaluation procedures, record proposals of example projects, typify the analysis procedure and finally evaluate the data provided. The concrete project proposals are submitted by the participating companies themselves. The ÖGNI checks the information provided on the projects for compliance with the taxonomy criteria using a plausibility check. The question is: Do the submitted project data comply with the specifications of the taxonomy criteria? The ÖGNI summarizes the results of the plausibility check and sends them to the company in text form as feedback. Finally, the participating companies, including INVESTER United Benefits, participate in the preparation of the report and in the recommendations for the European Commission. Here, the question is whether the technical evaluation criteria of the taxonomy regulation on the topic of circular economy, as defined in the EU draft, are practicable and achievable. The final step is an online meeting with all participants, the leaders and participants of the study, to evaluate and balance the data. By participating in the EU taxonomy study, INVESTER United Benefits once again intensifies its consistent ESG strategy. The participation is one of the pioneering achievements of INVESTER United Benefits. With the results, the company will soon be able to provide valuable experience from planning and practice for the entire construction and real estate industry. CEO Michael Klement comments: "The study is intended to provide feedback for the EU. The aim is to establish whether the regulations, as they are currently drafted, make sense and can be implemented."

The study is based on the EU Taxonomy Regulation, a uniform classification system for sustainable economic activities. Projects and financing of sustainable enterprises are to be strengthened in order to implement the transition to a low-carbon, resilient and resource-efficient economy. Environmentally sustainable is when it contributes to at least one of the environmental objectives set out in the Taxonomy Regulation.

ÖGNI certifications for INVESTER United Benefit

Several INVESTER United Benefits projects have already been awarded certificates by the ÖGNI. The award-winning projects include the "Grosses Glück" residential project in Vienna's Donaustadt district and the residential and retail project at Donaustadtstrasse 37 on the Alte Donau. Both projects are characterized by space-efficient and highly sustainable planning, plus interior and open spaces with high amenity qualities for future users. The residential complex "Grosses Glück" at Gross-Enzensdorferstrasse 62 provides for 153 apartments and a furnished roof terrace for all users. The residential complex is surrounded by green open spaces. Where a single-family house and two glass houses previously stood, there will be a self-sufficient residential complex for many people, supplied with energy by geothermal probes and a photovoltaic system. The temperature of the residential units is regulated by thermal component activation. Eight electric charging stations are available for a sustainable mobility concept. The same supply concept underlies the ÖGNI-certified larger residential and retail building project at Donaustadtstrasse 37 on the Alte Donau, in which the City of Vienna participated as a quality advisory board on the basis of an urban development contract. Here, each of the 251 residential units will have open-air areas. The cubature of the building complex with many internal structures creates private gardens and roof terraces on different floors. Four planned commercial units will mainly serve the local supply of the users, the focus of the project is on valuable, healthy living space.

Picture: Photo by AbsolutVision on Unsplash

About INVESTER United Benefits

INVESTER United Benefits is a developer of innovative real estate projects. Together with its sister companies EKAZENT Management and WEALTHCORE Investment Management, the United Benefits Holding Group initiates, develops, realizes and manages real estate investments in the DACH region and thus offers all services and processes along the entire value chain of a real estate investment. In line with the company's clear ESG strategy, all investments focus on independence, transparency and social justice as well as C02 reduction and the creation of sustainable value. The Group employs around 90 people and manages a volume of around 1.8 billion euros.

More information at www.invester.at

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