Is there a green future ahead?

The non-residential green building market is projected to grow by 9% annually, from $69.01 billion in 2021 to $110.52 billion in 2025. How is the warehouse industry addressing social and environmental challenges? Will Poland, as the second most active development market in Europe, become a leader in decarbonization?

According to the national building sector’s 2050 vision, all buildings should have a zero operational carbon footprint, while new developments and renovated buildings should have a net-zero lifecycle carbon footprint by 2050. But what is the situation today? The number of warehouses and logistics facilities designed and built in accordance with the requirements of multi-criteria certification is increasing. The PLGBC report “Green Building Certification in Numbers 2021” shows that green-certified space increased by 76% between March 2020 and March 2021. Developers, tenants, and investors are increasingly recognizing the social and commercial benefits of developing and using this type of space.

ESG standards are now influencing real estate values. A PwC survey found that nearly one in three investors in Poland already factor environmental, social, and corporate governance risks into their investment strategies. Addressing the climate crisis is essential today. According to the report, “Roadmap for Decarbonizing Construction by 2050,” buildings play a key role in this process.

How do I get on the green path?

According to 7R’s calculations, by using a graywater system, controlling consumption and leaks, and properly managing rainwater, 2,400 liters of water can be saved per day for a 20,000-square-meter warehouse. Photovoltaic panels covering half of such a building’s roof can provide up to 100% of daily energy needs, and panoramic skylights can reduce a building’s operating costs by more than 7%. These examples show that the sector’s professionalization in terms of green solutions does not rely exclusively on the implementation of advanced technologies. Building systems, whether more or less developed, should be complementary. Integrated BMS (Building Management Systems) increasingly control the entire operation.

Furthermore, in Balice near Kraków, 7R has built a research and development center for the BWI Group, which uses a trigeneration system for energy production. By utilizing a gas turbine, the system generates energy for electricity, heating, cooling, and ventilation. This means that the facility is almost entirely self-sufficient in terms of energy consumption.