The panel guests from BUWOG in Dialogue: (from left) Anna-Vera Deinhammer, Ursula Schneider, Peter Engert, Rainer Nowak and Kevin Töpfer.

Stimulating panel discussion with high-profile guests
An entire evening focussed on the issue of how and under what conditions the sustainable refurbishment of existing buildings is still possible?
Call for sensible regulations, economic feasibility and sustainable impact the mood of the evening

The latest edition of the BUWOG in Dialogue event series took place last Thursday, 24 April 2025, under the title “Sustainable refurbishment: Fit for the future, innovative, economical!”. This year's panellists included Anna-Vera Deinhammer (endowed chair for sustainable real estate development, FHWien of WKW), Peter Engert (managing director, Austrian Sustainable Building Council), Kevin Töpfer (managing director, BUWOG) and Ursula Schneider (architect, POS architekten ZT GmbH).

To set the tone, Anna-Vera Deinhammer gave a keynote speech that discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the 2025 Omnibus Regulation and its relevance for refurbishment activity. The brief presentation also addressed the topics of refurbishment standards and reporting obligations as well as the problem of low refurbishment rates. Afterwards, the experts on the panel, moderated by Rainer Nowak, discussed the future viability of refurbishing existing buildings. They also posed the question of whether and how the building stock can be made sustainable and at the same time economically attractive and how the balancing act between efficiency and impact can be achieved.

The informative discussion, which took place for the fourth time, has become established in the industry. This was demonstrated by the nearly 200 visitors who attended the event at BUWOG’s Customer and Administrative Centre on Rathausstrasse. The large number of guests from the business, construction and property sectors included Markus Engerth (head of division Austria & member of the management board of Strabag), Daniela Witt-Dörring (partner at WEBER & Co.), Sandra Bauernfeind (managing director of Heimat Österreich), Karina Schunker (managing director of EHL Wohnen), Gregor Puscher (managing director of Wohnfonds Wien), Franz Panwinkler (managing director of UBM Development) and Sne Veselinović (architect).

Around 200 guests from the business, construction and real estate sectors attended the new edition of BUWOG in Dialogue in Vienna's Rathausstrasse.

Sustainable portfolio refurbishment: Fit for the future, innovative, economical!

Many of the buildings that we will be living in by 2050 have already been constructed. Due to the particular importance of the building sector for achieving environmental protection targets, the sustainable and energy-efficient refurbishment of existing buildings is a critical lever for reducing CO₂ emissions, conserving resources and significantly improving energy efficiency. But it is not as easy as it sounds. Carrying out the necessary refurbishments and fulfilling the corresponding quotas under the current framework is extremely tough, as there is a wide gap between political objectives and economic feasibility. While the regulatory ambitions are considerable, these remain ineffective without the economic capacity for realisation under fair value conditions. The sentiments of the evening included not only agreement that the building stock must be refurbished but also appeals to policymakers. The panellists agreed that a functioning framework is needed to create effective incentives for the refurbishment of existing buildings. What is required first and foremost is a sustainable remodelling regulation that does not hinder the existing stock, but rather enables development that is legally, technically and economically viable.

Kevin Töpfer is convinced that refurbishments and conversions to sustainable energy supply in existing properties have enormous potential for impact. “We view ourselves as part of the solution: For us, sustainable refurbishment means taking responsibility, both for the environment and for the people who live in our buildings, but also for the long-term value retention of our properties. The path to environmentally-neutral housing stock will largely depend on harmonising regulatory and legal requirements with social justice and economic feasibility.”

Peter Engert takes a similar view and points out: “Sustainable refurbishment is an important step towards creating affordable housing by reducing operating costs. But we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that refurbishment also has to make economic sense for owners of existing properties. This is possible when additional levels, densification and extensions are made possible and economic advantages are generated.”

Anna-Vera Deinhammer adds: “The sustainable refurbishment of existing buildings is no longer a technical issue, but a systemic key to achieving environmental targets – both at the European and national level. But without consistent regulatory requirements, reliable financing models and practical implementation at local authority level, it will fall far short of its potential.”

Ursula Schneider looks at the issue from an artistic perspective and finds: “Our world and the requirements are continually changing. Refurbishing and continuing to build is all of a piece: with respect to what’s come before while keeping an eye on the future.”

The next “BUWOG in Dialogue” event will take place in autumn of 2025.