Our Actions

Focus 2023: Building and Housing

Focus on Sustainable Building and Housing

One of our focus topics for 2023 was Sustainable Building and Housing, a subject that was derived from one of the six transformation areas of the German Sustainable Development Strategy, making some of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) more tangible. We have realized various activities on the topic of Sustainable Building and Housing. Furthermore, in our How-to Guides we also present options for how you can become active yourself in your organisation.

Why Sustainable Building and Housing?

The building sector, both in Germany and around the world, is one of the main headaches affecting the transition to sustainability: some 40% of greenhouse gas emissions are incurred by the construction and operation of buildings and the associated infrastructure*. Half of all waste produced by Western industrialised countries stems from construction and demolition, and the renovation of existing building stock has stalled at lower levels, despite being vital for climate change mitigation. In short, we need the transition now more than ever – towards climate neutrality, a circular economy and efficient use of resources!

Housing has for years been one of the most pressing issues in Germany – and the housing crisis is only getting worse: while in city regions, prices for both renting and home ownership are soaring, some rural areas are seeing more and more properties untenanted. Social division is becoming entrenched. At the same time, we are taking up more and more living space in terms of square metres per person, while Germany’s overall population is growing in numbers but also in age. Clearly, we must provide more affordable housing and ensure both cities and the countryside are worth living in.

The impact of investment decisions vis-à-vis building and housing will be felt for decades to come – and this applies globally too. Where will our raw materials come from – and how do we make supply chains sustainable and resilient? Whether locally grown wood or rare raw materials from the Global South – good, decent working conditions and operating in harmony with nature must take centre stage here.

*Source: Umweltbundesamt

Sustainable Development Goals in the spotlight

The following Sustainable Development Goals were identified in the German Sustainability Strategy to contribute to the building and housing transition:

Initiatives to get involved

To examine the topic from all sides, present best practice examples, and explore new solutions together, the Joint Action for Sustainable Development has realised the following initiatives:

Bauwende unterwegs

In cooperation with the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), the “Bauwende unterwegs” [Building transition underway] series took place from May 2023. We were visiting and profiling selected pioneering projects for sustainable building from all over Germany and discussed how we can scale up their innovative solutions for wider use. Our stops:

Darmstadt, Alnatura Headquarters / May - Focus Topic: "Sustainable Building Materials" / Event report
Dresden, CUBE / June - Focus Topic: "Carbon Concrete" / Event report
Bad Aibling / July - Focus Topic: "Simply Building" / Event report
Freiburg, Neues Rathaus / September 15, 2023 (1- 4 pm) - Focus Topic: "Climate Positive Building"/ Event report
Bonn, GIZ Campus / November 16, 2023 (4-6 pm) - Focus Topic: "Space Concepts" / Event report
Berlin, Wilmina Hotel / December 14, 2023 (4-6 pm) - Focus Topic: "Conversion of Use" / Event report
Closing Event: Berlin / December 15, 2023 (from 9:30 am)- Focus Topic: "Looking back. Broaden the scope. Looking ahead"

Cooperation partners

Pictures from our stops

©Jens Ahner

Transformathon

Under the sponsorship of the Federal Minister of Housing, Urban Development and Building, as part of the National Urban Development Policy, we have launched an innovation contest in autumn together with the German Sustainability Award. This year's Transformathon focused on four major challenges in the field of building, housing, and urban development.

The winning team of the #Transformathon was announced on November, 23. The team "WOHNEN+ wohnraum geben - wohnen nutzen" first convinced the expert jury and then the audience at the German Sustainability Day in Düsseldorf. The participants of the challenge from our host, the University City of Tübingen, on the topic of "Invisible living spaces" can look forward to receiving the prize money.

We would also like to thank the other hosts and all participants!

Team Match Maker: hidden potentials-hidden functions-hidden spaces" part of the challenge „Solving competition for spaces” from the host National Urban Development Policy
Team "circumovi – Circular Building“ part of the challenge "Circular Building” from the hosts Kreis Lippe and WILA Bonn
Team "Small City Life - Quarter" part of the challenge "The 15 minute- city“ from the host DBU Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt

You can read all about the hackathon weekend in September here.

Here you can find the event report.

Cooperation partners

Does your organisation want to play an active part in the building transition?

Here are some ways you can get involved:

Share your best practice examples with the community

Organise your own event on the topic of Sustainable Building and Housing in your region

Get the building transition started in your organisation – whether a museum, sports club, local authority or family business

Here you can find How-to guides for getting your organization started on our way to the sustainable transition in the Building and Housing sector. If you happen to know about more material that you would like to share with us, you can write us an email.