Innovative Construction and Management

VWI is keen to inspire tenants to become partners in its efforts to ensure that its apartments and buildings are used in the most resource-efficient way possible. It helps tenants to act sustainably.

So-called “green” tenancy agreements are considered a key means of doing this in the property sector. In them, both parties agree to use and/or manage the building sustainably.

In the commercial sector, we succeeded in rounding out our product range by introducing “green” tenancy agreements (BLUE LEASE) back in 2018. Existing agreements were supplemented with corresponding clauses. Tenancy agreements covering a total of over 375,000 m² have successfully been converted to BLUE LEASE agreements already. BLUE LEASE is now a fixed component of new agreements. The majority of our tenants in the commercial sector are certified in line with DIN 14 001 (environmental management) and/or DIN 50 001 (energy management).

In addition to this, VWI is dedicated to focusing more strongly on (sympathetically) revitalizing existing properties which can provide environmental and social value added compared with newbuilds. Together with Technische Universität (TU) Braunschweig, the company is a partner and sponsor of the research project “Holistic decision-making support model for the sustainable revitalization of non-residential properties” (Ganzheitliches Entscheidungsunterstützungsmodell zur nachhaltigen Revitalisierung von Nichtwohnimmobilien, GenRE NWI). It will use the study’s findings to make its commercial real estate sustainable.

In the housing segment, we are piloting “green” tenancy agreements with additional clauses concerning the use of green power, energy-efficient appliances and water in connection with our Weidenplan newbuild housing project at Steimker Gärten. When it modernizes a rental property, VWI strives to fit state-of-the-art equipment which makes it possible to keep utilizing and managing the property sustainably. This approach is due to be specified in more detail in 2023 with the introduction of a BLUE BUILDING modernization standard. During the refurbishment work in Mozartstraße and with a view to gaining DGNB Gold certification for renovation, a user manual is being produced which provides tenants with information about the building and contains tips on sustainable living (e.g. heating and ventilation, electrical equipment, using low-emission products, waste disposal and mobility).

In response to the influx of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine in need of help, VWI made all 241 rooms at the Global Inn hotel available to the city of Wolfsburg for several months. At peak utilization up to 160 people were housed here. Supplies and counseling were provided by the German Red Cross, while other local partners actively supported the refugees with language tuition (Volkswagen AG) and childcare (city of Wolfsburg). By the end of September, all of the refugees who were temporarily accommodated at the Global Inn had been offered apartments, including some belonging to VWI. Regular hotel operations recommenced at the Global Inn in early October.

The German government’s Climate Action Plan for buildings states that the primary energy demand must be reduced to just under 40 kWh/m² (2008: 227 kWh/m²) for residential buildings and around 52 kWh/m² (2008: 265 kWh/m²) for non-residential buildings by 2050. In order to be able to follow the Climate Action Plan’s climate pathway, we need an intelligent measurement system to monitor our usage and optimize the primary energy demand of our real estate.

To tap new potential savings, we have thus decided to roll out smart meters at all our commercial properties. Discussions are still ongoing with various service providers about installing them and integrating the data into our company’s IT infrastructure. Implementation is expected to take place in 2023. There are plans to install meters in the residential division soon as well. However, no concrete date has been defined as yet. We are currently working on producing a concept for this in connection with our climate pathway planning. The aim is to directly provide commercial and residential tenants with information enabling them to track and manage their own energy usage, identify power consumption peaks and level them out promptly.

In addition to this, VWI uses smart thermostats which make it possible to heat rooms for just 30 to 40% as long as with conventional thermostats.

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Volkswagen Immobilien sees good transport links and sustainable mobility concepts as a crucial element of its quality offering. Providing a mobility infrastructure is an important aspect of the BLUE BUILDING standard and a compulsory part of all newbuild projects. We ensure that all of our apartments in Wolfsburg have links to the public transport network. The municipal authorities have progressed the design planning for an extension of Wolfsburg’s “Alternative Green Route” to incorporate the Steimker Gärten housing development. The ground was broken for the first section of this sustainable route at the end of 2022. Other important elements of our mobility strategy include additional electric vehicle charging points, car- and bike-sharing models and the provision of bicycle parking spaces, e.g. in bike sheds at ground level. We are in close contact with the ZIA and GdW associations regarding these topics.

Many older people want to live independently in their own home for as long as possible. Ensuring accessibility both inside and outside our buildings forms part of our BLUE BUILDING guidelines. VWI also provides assisted living. This includes 88 accessible apartments for the elderly (some suitable for wheelchair users) with optional support services at the retirement complex WIR (Wohnen im Ruhestand) in Wolfsburg-Fallersleben. VWI also has 175 accessible apartments at locations other than the WIR retirement complex. Work is under way to fit out 33 apartments to make them accessible for wheelchair users. These 208 apartments correspond to 2.2% of our portfolio. During the renovation of the Mozartstraße property, 11 apartments are currently being converted to make them accessible, representing a new addition to our housing portfolio.

Our modernization work focuses primarily on ground-floor apartments. We are also enhancing accessibility in the light of demographic trends, e.g. by eliminating thresholds, fitting wider doors, installing showers instead of baths and making controls easily accessible. At certain properties, we are also making specific modifications to elevators and constructing entrance ramps.

Keeping our tenants safe and protecting them from health risks is extremely important to us. With this in mind, our newbuilds comply with the relevant specifications set out in our BLUE BUILDING concept, such as those relating to internal air quality, thermal well-being and sound insulation. We have specific processes to safeguard health and safety during modernization work. These include removing defunct water pipes, fitting fire protection collars in false ceilings, checking for asbestos and removing it professionally, observing quiet hours and providing protection from dust during modernization work.

Notices are put up in stairwells providing advance information about construction work to modernize individual units. These tell tenants when work will start and how long it will last. Contractors are given a set time frame in which the work must be done. It may only be carried out between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., with a quiet period from noon to 1 p.m. Work usually stops at 4 p.m. Substantial noise disturbance only occurs during the first two weeks of demolition projects.