Environment

Jamestown conducted Life Cycle Assessments for two office adaptive reuse projects in Amsterdam and Cologne, comparing their whole life-cycle carbon impact against hypothetical new-build scenarios. The analysis covered both upfront embodied carbon and use-stage emissions over a 50-year building lifespan. The study highlights that focusing only on operational carbon understates the true environmental benefits of reuse and reinforces the need for a whole life-cycle perspective in development decisions.

Paradise SE11 is a low-carbon office development in central London designed to meet RIBA 2030 and LETI benchmarks. The project adopts a mass-timber structure supported by a concrete core, achieving a substantial reduction in embodied carbon. Circularity measures include a demountable timber frame and non-permanent fire-protection boards, enabling future material recovery and storing a significant volume of CO₂. The fully electric building aligns with CRREM 2034 and achieves EPC A and BREEAM Excellent. Engagement with local students informed the façade design.

Nrep’s Ripple Residence is a residential development in Copenhagen’s Nordhavn district that explores the commercial viability of low-carbon construction. The project features timber as the primary building material, targeted use of upcycled components, and an integrated energy system combining geothermal, solar, and smart controls. It achieves embodied emissions of 250 kgCO₂e/m² and operational emissions in line with CRREM pathways until 2050. Supported by DGNB certifications and green financing, the project shows that low-carbon housing can align with evolving regulatory requirements while remaining commercially competitive.

a.s.r. real estate is advancing towards a net zero residential portfolio by 2045 through Paris Proof renovations. Guided by CRREM-aligned roadmaps, the Fund combines deep retrofits, renewable energy generation, and tenant engagement to reduce emissions and energy use. A successful pilot in Houten, now scaled across multiple dwellings, demonstrates how holistic, data-driven strategies can transform existing assets into future-proof, high-performance homes.

The CubeHouse is Amsterdam’s first hybrid-timber office building, developed on the last available plot in the South-Axis CBD. Designed as the future Dutch headquarters for BNP Paribas and Arcadis, the project combines structural innovation with ambitious ESG goals. Using 13,000 m³ of sustainable timber storing 9,000 tonnes of CO₂, the building minimises embodied carbon while targeting Paris-proof performance, BREEAM Excellent and WELL Gold. With a rooftop garden, shared mobility hub and smart building systems, CubeHouse sets a new benchmark for sustainable workplaces in the Netherlands.

Amro Partners delivered Salamanca’s first BREEAM Outstanding student residence, balancing historic preservation with cutting-edge sustainability. The 170-bed scheme retained its early 1900s façade while introducing a fossil-free, high-performance building envelope. Achieving EPC ‘A’, Fitwel 3 Stars and WiredScore Platinum, it reduces operational carbon by 88% and brings embodied carbon close to 2030 LETI targets, setting a new benchmark for sustainable living in Spain.

IPUT Real Estate redefined sustainable retrofit practice with the transformation of 25 North Wall Quay in Dublin. This landmark redevelopment delivered IPUT’s first net zero office, achieving a 60% reduction in embodied carbon and 70% energy savings while retaining 75% of the original structure. Completed in Q1 2025, the project demonstrates how circular economy principles and close occupier collaboration can meet ambitious environmental, operational, and wellness goals without demolition.

DWS has repositioned a vacant asset in London’s Fitzrovia into a highly energy-efficient, wellness-focused workplace. By retaining much of the original structure, the redevelopment achieved a 30% reduction in primary energy demand and now targets BREEAM Outstanding and WELL Gold certifications. Strategic enhancements include rooftop extensions, upgraded amenities, and all-electric systems. Delivered in a constrained market with high occupier expectations, the project exemplifies how DWS leverages smart retrofitting to unlock long-term value and reduce environmental impact.

IPUT Real Estate is developing Nexus Logistics Park, a 2.5 million square-foot logistics scheme in North Dublin, to meet increasing demand for energy-efficient, modern facilities. The project incorporates timber-frame construction, photovoltaic panels, and high-performance materials. As part of IPUT’s logistics expansion strategy, the park targets LEED Gold certification and BER A1 energy performance, delivering long-term sustainability and market resilience.

ROOTS Hamburg is Germany’s tallest timber hybrid high-rise, developed by GARBE in HafenCity and completed in Q1 2024. Standing at 19 storeys, the project pioneers climate-resilient construction through the innovative use of prefabricated timber combined with a concrete core. ROOTS integrates sustainable materials, advanced fire safety measures, and urban mixed-use programming to set a new benchmark for low-carbon, high-density development in Europe.

The case study details the development of Innocent Drinks’ energy-neutral factory in Rotterdam, designed by Deerns. The facility integrates sustainable features, including a solar park, wind turbines, and efficient energy systems, achieving BREEAM-NL Outstanding and WELL Platinum certifications. Producing 400 million bottles annually, it reduces transportation miles by 25% and CO₂ emissions by 10%. This innovative approach highlights effective collaboration and sustainability in industrial design.

The Malinas Retail Park in Mechelen, Belgium, developed by Mitiska REIM, is Europe’s first CO2-neutral retail park. Achieving BREEAM 'Excellent' certification, its sustainable features include solar panels generating 2.85 MWp, green façades, permeable paving, and rainwater management systems. The park also promotes biodiversity, creating 254 jobs and providing eco-friendly infrastructure like EV charging stations. Opened fully let in 2021, it reflects the demand for accessible, sustainable retail solutions.

The Elithis Danube Tower in Strasbourg is the world’s first energy-positive residential building, generating more energy than it consumes through solar panels and smart design. Completed in 2018, this 17-story, 63-apartment tower emphasizes sustainability, affordability, and comfort, offering near-zero energy bills and reduced CO₂ emissions. Residents use a Smart Home App to monitor and optimize energy usage. The project demonstrates that sustainable construction can be cost-effective and scalable, inspiring plans for 100 similar towers by 2030.

User manual for the CRREM Risk Assessment Tool V2: This Reference Guide accompanies the CRREM Carbon Risk Assessment Tool for the Global Commercial & Residential Real Estate Industry. 

The guide provides an overall instruction on how the CRREM tool should be applied, as well as indepth guidance into the user input variables for the tool, user adjustable variables, default data underlying the tool and resulting output figures on property and portfolio level.