VIG’s apartment building is Austria's first EU Taxonomy-compliant historic building
Apartment building meets strict EU sustainability standards and has been awarded ÖGNI certification
The Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) has received the Austrian Sustainable Building Council (ÖGNI) certificate for its building at Singerstraße 8 in Vienna's first district. This is the first time that a historic Viennese Zinshaus (apartment building) has clearly fulfilled the climate protection requirements of the EU Taxonomy Regulation that came into force in 2021.
“This first certification for a Vienna Zinshaus (apartment building) proves that even buildings of this kind can fulfil taxonomy regulations for contemporary care and maintenance”, explains Gerhard Lahner, COO and member of the Vienna Insurance Group Managing Board.
“We are delighted about the success we have achieved with this pioneering pilot project together and would like to thank both VIG and our project partners ATP Sustain and PwC. The project demonstrates that even historic buildings can contribute to the transition to a low-carbon, resilient and resource-saving economy”, adds ÖGNI Managing Director Peter Engert.
Aligning a late 19th century apartment building with EU sustainability specifications and carrying out the necessary improvements and energy optimisation work was a huge challenge, and one that was only possible thanks to the cooperation of the tenants. Built in 1911 and located in the immediate vicinity of Stephansplatz, the building at Singerstraße 8 is today still home to prestigious 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 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 already has two 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.
