Our trainee Ann-Kristin Große from our Bonn office recently had the opportunity to visit the Energy Competence Center in Kerpen-Horrem together with her vocational school class. The exciting trip focused on energy efficiency in buildings—a topic that is becoming increasingly important in the real estate industry.
During the excursion, participants gained practical insight into modern, sustainable construction methods and technical measures for increasing energy efficiency. These included:
- Innovative insulation concepts
- Use of renewable energy sources such as solar thermal energy and photovoltaics
- Modern heating technology such as heat pumps and ventilation systems with heat recovery
The Energy Competence Center itself serves as a teaching and demonstration building and illustrates how well-thought-out planning and future-oriented technologies can go hand in hand to save energy while increasing living comfort.
Such extracurricular learning venues are a valuable addition to education and promote understanding of sustainable real estate concepts.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is becoming increasingly important in the real estate industry. This model-based method is making a significant contribution to companies in this sector, particularly in the current phase of digitalization. BIM is used to optimize the planning, construction, and management of real estate through comprehensive software monitoring.
All parties involved with access to the software receive relevant information about the property at any time. This enables digital traceability of the entire life cycle of a property and continuous monitoring of its current status.
BIM links all data from different departments in a central cloud. This enables the creation of a digital building model in 3D, which provides a realistic simulation of the property. In addition to visual representation, BIM also integrates factors such as time, costs, and other specific characteristics. This allows construction projects to be designed more efficiently and transparently.
Advantages:
BIM offers numerous advantages for project developers, investors, real estate agents, and operators.
- Increased efficiency in planning and construction
- Optimization of building operations
- Improved marketing and property valuation
Challenges:
- High initial investment: software, training, and IT infrastructure.
- Data management: Structured and secure access is essential.
- Acceptance and expertise: Companies must train skilled personnel and adapt processes.
All processes can be monitored and controlled in detail thanks to the digital representation of the building. This leads to optimized management of complex processes, improved collaboration between all parties involved, and seamless data transfer without any loss of information. BIM enables accurate forecasts for the course of the project, higher design quality, and fewer errors, which increases customer satisfaction thanks to transparent planning. Continuous real-time information exchange and the constant availability of all current and relevant data facilitate the entire construction and management process. The efficient use of work capacities, better scheduling and performance planning, and optimized resource management further support successful project execution. Ultimately, BIM ensures more sustainable and economical building operation.
BIM has applications in all phases of a construction project—from the initial planning phase to construction and management after completion. Even when a building is already in operation, BIM provides valuable support. Stored data is perfect for efficiently planning upcoming maintenance and renovations or identifying new opportunities for optimizing the use of the property.
The importance of BIM for commercial real estate agents
BIM offers market participants significant added value. The digital representation of buildings that are for sale or rent enables precise analyses to be carried out. Detailed information on building structures, technical systems, and potential uses can be accessed at any time, which makes it much easier to advise interested parties. With the help of BIM-based models, market participants can make statements about the efficiency, profitability, and future viability of a property. This creates transparency and trust for potential investors, buyers, or tenants and facilitates the entire transaction process.
Recommended action for commercial real estate players:
- Step-by-step implementation: Test pilot projects before fully integrating BIM.
- Cooperation with experts: Involve IT specialists and BIM consultants for effective implementation.
- Employee training: Ensure that all participants can use the software efficiently.
- Develop a data strategy: Define clear processes for storage, access, and analysis.
- Use BIM as a competitive advantage: Market participants can offer precise assessments and advice.
Conclusion:
BIM is a forward-looking technology that offers significant advantages, particularly for commercial real estate. Investing in BIM pays off in the long term through greater efficiency, transparency, and better decision-making for all parties involved.
