Belgian bank ING is launching a ‘Sustainable Buildings Guide’ to determine how a company or independent can best invest to make their buildings more energy efficient, it announced on Tuesday.
The guide is already available to companies operating in the real estate, social, non-profit and public sectors and will now be rolled out to its business customers.
“The sharp rise in energy costs and increasingly strict regulations are weighing more and more on companies every day,” stated Peter Göbel, head of business banking at ING Belgium. “Investing in energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important and pays off: lower energy bills and above all the preservation of property value. These benefits are also felt by private owners.”
A study by Belgium's statistics office Statbel assesses the varying age of buildings in Belgium. In Flanders, 33% of buildings were built after 1981; in Wallonia, the percentage is 22% and in the Brussels-Capital Region this drops to 7%. Older buildings are far less energy efficient.
Where best to invest
Many families and businesses are uncertain of where to start with renovations. “Is a heat pump, roofing or double glazing the most profitable investment? What can you do to reduce your energy bills? With the Sustainable Buildings Guide, we want to help those who are buying or renovating (…)”, explains Sali Salieski, head of retail and private banking at ING Belgium.
The tool uses an algorithm that calculates how individual buildings can improve energy performance. It provides an estimate of the cost of potential investments, the energy savings and the payback period.
A planner is then offered to help clients allocate investments according to available cash and selected renovations. The tool is available to anyone who wishes to use it, whether or not they are affiliated with ING Bank.
