“The comprehensive optimisation of our properties’ energy consumption is an important step towards the successful implementation of our ESG strategy within portfolio management. Sustainability criteria are becoming an increasingly important factor for many institutional investors when making investment decisions. This growing significance will become especially evident from March 2021, when the disclosure regulation comes into effect and real estate fund providers will have to present their sustainability activities in a transparent manner,” says Alexander Eggert, Managing Director of Warburg-HIH Invest.

In addition, properties with a gas supply within the Warburg-HIH Invest portfolio will be using carbon-neutral natural gas in future. Working together with operating costs specialist Argentus helped optimise the gas supply. Within the scope of an allocation process, Argentus awarded the gas supply volume to E.ON Energie Deutschland GmbH on a bundled basis. The conversion will reduce annual carbon emissions by 1,300 tonnes in balance sheet terms. In addition, heating costs will be reduced by around €150,000 annually through central purchasing following the complete conversion.

Carbon-neutral natural gas is fossil natural gas – the resulting emissions are offset through the support of climate protection projects in other parts of the world that reduce carbon emissions locally. For example, supporting the operation of a hydroelectric power station in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The carbon savings achieved in this way are annually certified by TÜV Nord.