Competence centre for sustainability in the real estate industry

Prof. Dr Sven Bienert MRICS REV

Changing user requirements, new regulatory requirements and evolving environmental conditions are increasingly influencing investment, leasing and financing decisions in international property markets. It has become essential for all market participants to recognise at an early stage the need for a holistic approach to sustainability in order to secure competitive advantages. An interdisciplinary perspective on property and property companies is essential in order to address the growing demand for sustainability across all sectors of the property industry.

The Competence centre for sustainability in the real estate industry addresses this increasingly important topic and examines, from both an academic and a practical perspective, the role of the property sector in the context of ongoing climatic and societal change. The understanding of sustainability is based on the principle of the triple bottom line. Potential approaches to the environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspects of sustainability are analysed at both the property and company levels, and their practical relevance is discussed. In particular, the influence and significance of the various rating and reporting systems are scientifically examined.

Research topics

The Competence centre’s 3-step approach:

1. Identify and understand: e.g. the impacts of climate change and resource consumption on the property sector, intergenerational challenges, sustainability due diligence
2. Prevention and Adaptation: e.g. CSR/ESG/GRI for property companies, sustainability assessment, life cycle costing
3. Transforming and innovating: e.g. establishing a sustainability benchmarking system, harmonising assessment standards (DGNB, LEED, BREEAM), further developing green leases

Learning objectives

The aim of the interdisciplinary courses is to enable students to develop creative solutions to problems facing the property sector, given that this is a very new field of study.

Raising awareness of sustainability among future decision-makers at an early stage is of great importance to the entire sector. This is because resolving the apparent conflict of objectives between ecology, economy and social justice contributes to intergenerational justice and global climate protection.