OVG and Sustainability
OVG is acutely aware of the impact our projects have on their surroundings. In order to reduce our ecological footprint we are constantly investing in sustainability.
Sustainability isn't just a nice addition to our strategy. It's an integrated element of the quality buildings we want to deliver for our clients, its employees and its immediate surroundings.
Being a developer OVG has a responsible position in the physical appearance of the natural surroundings in which we live. Buildings have an average lifecycle of more than 30 years. The impact on the surroundings and the energy use of a building is determent on the drawing board.
OVG distinguished three clear trends that lead to a new business model of sustainable development:
- Environmental: Our environment made it clear that we have to take drastic measurements in order to change the devastating effects of global warming.
- Social: People like to live, work and recreate in an environment which is stimulating. A harmonious natural surrounding is a clear element in this.
- Financial: Buildings with a sustainable label will have a longer economical benefit opposed to traditional buildings. We see that companies and investors ask for buildings with a sustainable profile.
Missions
OVG committed herself to develop sustainable buildings. We define buildings as sustainable if the building has an 100% neutral energy use during the total lifecycle of the building (from initiative, development, exploitation to determination or redevelopment). We can achieve this goals by reducing emissions thanks to smart design and developing external energy facilities such as windmills or bio fuel installations.
Leadership
OVG takes a front-runners position in stimulating initiatives that help the real estate business to become more sustainable. We actively communicate with our clients about the possibilities of sustainable real estate without them having to make concessions in quality or prize. We search for connections with the academic world such as R&D centres or universities, but also participate in discussions with political organs. Furthermore we support new concepts that stimulate worldwide development of sustainable buildings.
Clinton Global Initiative
OVG committed herself to the Clinton Global Initiative. Companies that participate in this initiative commit themselves to certain goals that help combat the devastating effects of climate change. OVG made a commitment in October 1997 to invest 1 billion dollar in the upcoming 5 years in the development of sustainable buildings. During the total lifecycle of the buildings OVG will reduce 1 megaton CO2 opposite to traditional developments.
Duurzaam Gebouwd
OVG took the initiative to develop a website that shares knowledge on sustainable innovations in real estate. This will benefit the Dutch real estate sector. The website operates as an open source site and stimulates the awareness of sustainable development. The site is only available in Dutch.
TNT
In August 2007 TNT launched its comprehensive program to cut CO2 emissions. This program is called Planet Me. TNT’s strategy is focussed on improving transparency on the company’s carbon footprint, to drastically reduce CO2 emissions from the company’s operations and to stimulate its 159,000 employees to do the same in their private lives. The company is implementing CO2 reduction initiatives in its eight most important operational areas: aviation, buildings business travel, company cars, partnering with customers, operational fleet, procurement, and investments. Significant part of this program is the Green buildings initiative. TNT selected OVG and Triodos to implement TNT’s Green Buildings initiative, recently announced as part of TNT’s Planet Me program. TNT’s new head office in Hoofddorp will be the first TNT GREEN Office to be built across the Netherlands. OVG and Triodos will build and manage the office for TNT and guarantee the project to be 100% CO2 neutral during the entire exploitation period. A unique aspect of the partnership between TNT, Triodos and OVG is the long term commitment the parties have with each other in order to make sure the sustainability goals will be reached.
