HBB attaches great importance to protecting the environment and tries to make the greatest possible contribution to achieving climate goals. This not only affects the process of planning and realization or the relaunch of real estate, but also the operation and the entire management. With this in mind, new developments as well as existing properties are checked in the course of a relaunch with the known certificates (e.g. DGNB, BREAM) with regard to their contribution to climate protection. Two properties owned by HBB, the Forum Hanau and an office property in Dreieich, are currently being recertified.
In order to obtain an indication of the status of our properties, we became a member of initiatives such as ECORE at an early stage in order to have a comparison with other properties of the same type available on the market. We are also a member of QUANTREFY, a platform that on the one hand allows a comparison to other scoring models besides ECORE (e.g. GRESB), but on the other hand also gives optimization suggestions to improve the score. On this basis, we can optimize our properties from year to year.
In the last three years, HBB's office operations have been largely digitized. This does not only affect the platforms that are used to work with. The data management system introduced at this time as well as the internal project management and the digital bookkeeping and accounting system allow for an almost paperless office.
Through the use of digital conference technology, internal and external meetings have been freed from unnecessary travel by car, plane or train, thereby reducing the CO2 emissions that occur there.
The planning of our properties takes into account retreat areas for people and animals and is not only becoming "greener" in the roof areas. The consideration of environmentally friendly supply systems as well as the planning of photovoltaics, charging stations for e-mobility, etc. are a matter of course. Nesting boxes for bats or birds or bee hotels are included in many projects. If necessary, new habitats are created for protected species and these species are settled there.
In addition, the planning process examines and takes into account the effects on neighboring buildings with regard to distances, shading and changes in air flows.
Logistically required delivery zones are made visually barely perceptible and the emissions produced there are reduced as much as possible.
For several years, HBB has been increasingly involved in the relaunch of existing properties and the development of so-called brownfields. The best examples of this are the development of the former Hitzbleck area in Heiligenhaus and the restructuring of the properties in Munich (Forum Schwanthalerhöhe) and Hamburg (Krohnstieg-Center). In the case of the two latter properties, we preferred conversion to demolition and new construction.
When it comes to new buildings, we aim for higher storeys in order to optimize the use of the plot area. In our project in Bochum, up to six floors above ground were built in some areas on the site of the former district court and two floors below ground over the entire area.
At HBB, it is not only the use of CO2-reduced raw materials that counts, but also the reduction of emissions associated with construction and the subsequent existence of the property. We regularly get positive feedback from the municipalities in which we build that the low-emission construction we practice is currently the exception in terms of dust, noise and construction site logistics in the projects carried out in the respective city.
The materials resulting from the demolition of buildings are recycled as far as possible on the building site and reused in the foundation and/or the development as well as in the outdoor areas. This avoids waste and implements a circular economy system.
HBB has erected many of its construction projects on formerly contaminated land, which required extensive measures to remove contaminated sites and building pollutants.
The energy supply of our buildings takes into account green energies and works with the latest technologies to protect against unnecessary consumption, such as systems for compensating for reactive current. Our nursing homes are heated with our own combined heat and power plants.
Wherever possible, the roof landscapes will have extensive green roofs to improve the microclimate around the property and/or a photovoltaic system for self-supply with electricity. Filter systems are selected according to the latest standards and waste disposal is based on strict waste separation.
HBB strives to guarantee the KfW40 standard for new buildings. This can now be shown almost universally in old people's homes and residential buildings; in the case of commercial buildings, individual tenants still have to be convinced of the advantages and necessities.
HBB is committed to controlling and optimizing the operating costs of its properties. Smart metering is therefore made possible in newly built properties. In the case of existing properties, we try to implement retrofitting together with the owners.
Energy consumption is analyzed by our managers and unnecessary load times or energy consumers are eliminated.
Waste avoidance and separation is also the top priority in the company.
HBB Hanseatische Betreuungs- und Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH