Vienna Ringturm compliant with EU Taxonomy
Historic office building on Schottenring meets EU sustainability standards
Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) and Wiener Städtische Versicherung have received EU Taxonomy compliance certification from the Austrian Sustainable Building Council (ÖGNI) for the Ringturm building in Vienna’s first district. The building at Schottenring 30 is the corporate headquarters of Wiener Städtische Versicherungsverein, Vienna Insurance Group and Wiener Städtische Versicherung.
The 73-metre-high office building is located on the Danube Canal and was opened in 1955. Receiving certification by ÖGNI demonstrates that it meets the requirements of the EU Taxonomy Regulation, which came into force in 2021, thanks to its significant contribution to the environmental goal of climate change mitigation. The certification was awarded during the real estate trade fair EXPO Real in Munich.
This certification for the Ringturm is remarkable. It shows that even post-war office buildings built in the 1950s can comply with the EU Taxonomy if they are well managed and made energy efficient. As part of our VIG 25 sustainability programme, we’ve set ourselves the goal of making our offices climate neutral by 2030. Our joint headquarters being Taxonomy compliant sends an important signal in this regard.
Photovoltaic system on the roof
The Ringturm has been made Taxonomy compliant through careful maintenance and continuous improvements. “The key measures we’ve taken include putting photovoltaic systems on the roof and using district cooling. Overall, however, we’ve had to take a multitude of measures to meet the benchmarks set out in the EU’s list of criteria for sustainable activities — including installing LED lighting and extensive energy monitoring systems”, says Ralph Müller, General Manager of Wiener Städtische Versicherung.
The Ringturm started being supplied with sustainable solar power via two photovoltaic systems earlier this year. In total, around 48,000 kilowatt hours of electricity is being generated directly on the building itself.
Peter Engert, Managing Director of ÖGNI: “As one of Austria’s best-known buildings, the Ringturm clearly shows that a broader range of buildings than one might expect can achieve our present-day climate objectives. Targeted measures for thermal refurbishment in combination with adequate building services have made this possible.”
“If owners take their responsibility seriously and work proactively on their property independently of any building regulations, existing properties can offer opportunities too. Measures to reduce the primary energy demand reduce risks in the area of climate protection, while measures to increase the resilience of buildings reduce the risks associated with climate change. This enables them to make a significant contribution to the Green Deal target for 2050”, says Michael Haugeneder, Managing Director of ATP Sustain. “As an EU Taxonomy Advisor, our main job is to provide constructive support to VIG as our client. This is especially true in terms of obtaining the relevant proof to make the Group’s efforts visible, in particular with certification by ÖGNI.”
Historic apartment building in Vienna already certified
In November 2022, ÖGNI issued a verification certificate to a VIG apartment building in Vienna from 1911, making it the first old property in Austria to be certified by ÖGNI in line with the EU Taxonomy. The building on Singerstraße 8, in the immediate vicinity of Stephansplatz, houses renowned shops, offices and apartments.
VIG real estate portfolio to meet European sustainability standards
According to the EU Commission, buildings account for around 40% of energy consumption and around a third of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU. This certification for VIG confirms that improvements to historic buildings will allow them to be considered green according to the EU definition and to contribute to achieving EU climate targets. VIG Holding already has other city centre properties in Vienna awaiting completion of the conformity check and is working on the Taxonomy compliance of its entire real estate portfolio.
Ringturm known for annual wrappings
The Ringturm is known in particular for its festive decorations in the form of a Christmas tree and the annual Ringturm “wrapping” by various artists from Central and Eastern Europe. On the initiative of Wiener Städtische Versicherungsverein, the renowned Austrian artist Gottfried Helnwein is currently transforming the Ringturm with a special wrapping into a large-scale appeal against violence. Helnwein is making experiences of violence by women and children emphatically visible over a total area of 3,000 m².
The Ringturm was built by architect Erich Boltenstern (1896–1991) and opened on 14 June 1955. National Socialism had led Boltenstern to emigrate to the United States, where he became acquainted with and learnt to appreciate the practicality of the modern high-rise office buildings there. The type of construction chosen was a reinforced concrete skeleton. The building comprises 20 floors and three basements.