Goldbeck Sustainability Consulting – an expert in sustainability and ESG consulting for existing properties – has provided strategic and operational support for the DGNB "Buildings in Operation" certification of two office properties in the Rheinparkcarree in Monheim am Rhein. The German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), as an independent certification body, has awarded the building operation of the AQA & RIVA properties with the result "Gold". The certificates are valid for three years. The client was the VK Immobilien Group.
The two properties on the Rhine promenade were realised by Goldbeck in 2013 and 2016 and are part of the Rheinparkcarree in the immediate vicinity of the Rhine. Covering a total of more than 11,500 square metres, the properties have flexible office space concepts for different user requirements.
Efficient and sustainable building operation as the basis
Goldbeck Facility Services is responsible for the technical and infrastructural facility management for the two Monheim properties. Since the completion of the properties, they have ensured efficient, sustainable and user-oriented building operation of the properties. With their own in-house technicians on site and a 24/7 on-call service, they ensure optimal use of the building at all times. In addition, they assume comprehensive operator responsibility on behalf of VK Immobilien and provide a fire protection officer.
These comprehensive services are a central basis, especially with regard to the successful DGNB company certification. In addition, the DGNB multiple certificate "Buildings in Operation" simplified the process. Goldbeck Facility Services was the first facility management service provider in Germany to receive it in 2024. With the multiple certificate, Goldbeck Facility Services is paving the way for its customers to achieve a significantly simplified DGNB certification "Buildings in operation" for their individual projects. This makes certification processes for existing properties faster, easier and more cost-effective to implement.
"We have set ourselves the task of recognizing the individual optimization potential of each existing property at an early stage, realistically evaluating its benefits and using this knowledge strategically. After all, sustainability is decided during ongoing operations – precisely where experienced operating experts ensure that measures are not only planned, but also become economical, practical and lasting effective during ongoing operations. The certification in Monheim shows how existing properties can be made fit for the future thanks to efficient and sustainable building operation," says Nils Lueken, Managing Director of Goldbeck Facility Services GmbH.
Independent and transparent support in the certification process
On the basis of the existing multiple certificate, Goldbeck Sustainability Consulting supported the client VK Immobilien in achieving the DGNB certification "Buildings in Operation" and supported it in transparently demonstrating the sustainability of building operation and the future viability of its properties. Among other things, the DGNB assessed ecological, economic, functional and technical criteria for ongoing operations. These include, for example, energy and resource efficiency, CO₂ emissions, user comfort, mobility services, operating processes, climate risks and the technical and economic performance of the properties.
Goldbeck Sustainability Consulting accompanied the entire certification process independently and transparently – from determining the status quo and implementing optimisation measures to auditing, verifying and coordinating with the independent certification body DGNB. As part of the certification, Goldbeck's Sustainability Consulting also created a climate protection roadmap, a CRREM analysis and a climate risk analysis. In addition, mobility comfort for employees in both properties has been increased by a bicycle shelter and an associated maintenance station.
"The certification results confirm the future viability and marketability of the properties: Both buildings are well on their way to climate neutrality. For the owner, the certification result creates additional transparency and provides important confirmation with regard to the value stability of both assets," explains Luisa Gockel, Building Sustainability & Energy Consultant at Goldbeck Sustainability Consulting.
"The successful DGNB certification shows that sustainable building operation in the real estate portfolio is not an abstract goal. Through reliable data, its well-founded analysis and structured processes based on it, we make sustainable building operation concretely measurable and controllable. On the basis of the existing DGNB multiple certificate from Goldbeck Facility Services, we have made optimal use of all synergies in this certification process and thus successfully supported our customers on their way to achieving their certification goal," says Michaela Föller, Head of Department at Goldbeck Sustainability Consulting. "For VK Immobilien, we are thus creating transparency about the current sustainability performance of the building's operations and at the same time a sound basis for the long-term development and future viability of their property," adds Michaela Föller.
