Are the new estates more eco-friendly and bring savings?

What solutions are used by developers in new housing estates to save on property maintenance and reduce utility costs? How much can you gain from them?

Cezary Grabowski, Sales and Marketing Director of Bouygues Immobilier Polska:
Let's look at this issue more broadly: the idea of ​​sustainable construction has been part of our strategy for years, and therefore also of our investments. In practice, for example, we adopt the principle that in each new project we will use at least three ecological solutions. They include, among others photovoltaic panels - powering common parts, led bulbs - translating into significantly lower electricity consumption or rainwater retention - which allows it to be used for watering the vegetation in the estate. This, of course, also brings savings for residents, and is also a great example of the ecological use of environmental resources.

Another example is the light gravel on the roof to prevent overheating in the summer. We also take care of rich plantings of greenery and elements supporting biodiversity. At the moment, we are working on innovative solutions to reduce CO2 emissions to a greater extent than required by the certificates.

Our goal is to create the best spaces to live in, conducive to activity, relaxation and contact with nature. We also care about solutions that enhance biodiversity and allow for responsible use of resources.

Joanna Janowicz, managing director at Constructa Plus:
In the Kościelna 23 investment in Poznań, which we currently offer, we have installed a photovoltaic installation that allows you to save on the costs of lighting the common areas. In four projects that we are preparing, we also plan to support heating with a heat pump. One should also not forget about the proper design of partitions and joinery, the selection of materials of appropriate quality and well-thought-out installations: plumbing, ventilation, and sewage. It also allows for real savings, although with the current fashion for photovoltaics, many companies forget about it.

Małgorzata Ostrowska, director of the Marketing and Sales Division at J.W. Construction Holding S.A.:
In the Villa Campina estate near Warsaw, we have already built fifty houses made in the prefabrication technology, using healthy, natural materials that can be recycled. We focused on ecology, anticipating that it would be a trend, and meanwhile, low bills, thanks to renewable energy and Scandinavian solutions, are a magnet that attracts pragmatic customers. The houses are situated on plots with an area of ​​337 square meters. up to 507 sq m They have two floors with a total area of ​​135 sq m. Only 22 kWh / m2 per year are needed to heat rooms and water as well as for ventilation. This means that they are practically energy passive. In addition, mechanical ventilation with recuperation provides access to fresh and filtered air without losing heat. The houses are prepared for the installation of a photovoltaic system, which enables the production of electricity from solar radiation and reduces electricity bills practically to zero. Soon we will start the construction of another 22 houses, ultimately we will build 118 more.

Karolina Bronszewska, Marketing and Innovation Director of Ronson Development:
Ecological solutions have become a standard in our projects. Their use is to increase the quality and comfort of life of future residents, but also to reduce the cost of maintaining the property. For example, the use of LED lighting in common areas means a reduction in bills for the housing community for supplying spaces such as cages or elevators by up to 30-50 percent.

In our projects, we eagerly reach for solutions that use solar energy. Photovoltaic panels appear in newly designed investments in common areas. We also apply solutions for the use of rainwater - infiltration boxes and retention tanks are created. We also design green walls and roofs. The latter are an increasingly common solution that relieves sewage systems, stopping up to 80 percent. rainwater. It has thermoregulatory properties - it retains heat in winter and cools the surface in summer, and protects the insulation, so that possible roof repairs can be postponed by several years. We focus on supporting electromobility. Our investments include bicycle stands and shelters, as well as bicycle paths. In new projects, such as Osiedle Vola in Warsaw's Wola district, we have planned external charging stations for electric cars.

Edyta Kołodziej, Sales and Marketing Director at Nickel Development:
Heat pumps are installed in our latest investment, i.e. the Skarbcowo stage in the Księżnej Dąbrówki estate in the western suburbs of Poznań. It is also possible to mount a photovoltaic installation. This applies to two-unit houses and terraced houses. In turn, in apartments in a multi-family building, a smart home system will be available, which will optimize energy consumption by adjusting the scenarios to the weather, time of day and year. A similar solution is also available to our clients who choose flats in FIQUS Marcelin and Osiedle Naturama investments.

It is difficult to estimate how big the savings will be allowed by these installations. Much will depend on the way the apartment is used and the individual preferences of individual tenants. It is certain, however, that even with high energy consumption, the estate's impact on the environment will be much smaller than with conventional energy supply to homes.

Mariola Żak, sales and marketing director at Aurec Home:
The international experience of the president and co-owner of Aurec Home Shragi Weisman and the entire team in creating the perfect place to live allows us to adjust the investment to the needs of a conscious recipient. Appropriate spatial planning, environmental certifications, care for low-emission buildings and the use of numerous ecological solutions are some of the most important features of our housing estates.

In all residential investments, we use innovative, ecological solutions that increase the quality of life and contribute to the protection of the natural environment. We implement projects in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. We install energy-saving patents in buildings, including: photovoltaic panels, mechanical ventilation, ground heat exchangers and rainwater recovery. We create greenhouses for growing our own crops, as well as solar benches and parking spaces with chargers for electric cars.

The activities that we introduce in our housing estates contribute to ecology, savings and translate into lower maintenance costs. Such costs are part of the ongoing charges residents pay for rent. Reducing energy consumption in common areas by installing photovoltaic panels or appropriate management of greenery, affecting the retention of water in the soil, are activities that allow you to reduce bills.

Sebastian Barandziak, President of the Management Board of Dekpol Deweloper:
We use heat pumps, energy-saving LED lighting, dusk sensors, photovoltaic panels and intelligent solutions in eHome Control premises - heating and lighting control. Such solutions can be found in all our investments. However, it is difficult to determine the size of savings due to the variety of investments and solutions used.
Janusz Miller, Sales and Marketing Director of Home Invest

For a long time, we have been placing special emphasis on energy-efficient lighting in the common parts of our estates, inside and outside buildings. In turn, in the planned investments, we envisage a number of solutions that will allow future residents to save on exploitation and utilities. First of all, in investments consisting of single-family buildings, they will find application, among others photovoltaic panels and heat pumps. In addition, there will also be smart home solutions.

Joanna Chojecka, sales and marketing director for Warsaw and Wrocław at the Robyg Group:
The Robyg Group provides the residents of its housing estates with numerous innovative technological solutions that support ecology and reduce the operating costs of flats. All our housing estates have a photovoltaic installation, which generates electricity used for the needs of the common areas of the building - i.e. lighting of corridors, staircases, lobbies, fitness zones and playgrounds for children. It is an environmentally friendly solution. It uses the natural way of generating electricity, but does not consume resources, and additionally reduces the operating costs of the building, which is felt in the wallet by the residents. Most of the apartments are equipped with the Smart House system as standard, which allows you to save up to 50% on bills. In addition, we decided to go 100 percent of the construction processes. for energy from renewable sources in the next two years, i.e. by the end of 2024. We intend to achieve this by taking into account, in the energy purchasing process, suppliers with the largest possible share of energy from renewable sources, and from 2024, only green energy. Such a step will significantly reduce the carbon footprint and contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions. The company has also made official commitments to report CO2 emissions and increase the share of renewable energy in its operations.

Source: The survey was developed by the real estate website dompress.pl
Photo: Villa Campina - JW Construction