The path to climate-neutral buildings
Tend's CO₂mpass web application enables the real estate company Intershop to plan its CO₂ reduction path with concrete measures and thus achieve the net zero targets for its building stock.
The Puls 5 building complex, located between Turbinenplatz and Pfingstweidstrasse in Zurich-West, combines an industrial past with modern architecture. At its center is the foundry hall built in 1898, flanked by two extensions dating from 2003. The property has been part of the portfolio of listed company Intershop Holding AG since 2002. The company has high sustainability goals: CO₂ emissions are to be reduced by at least 50 % across the entire portfolio by 2032, and net zero is to be achieved by 2050.
A web application for the development of the CO₂ reduction pathway
Intershop owns 45 properties and sites in Switzerland (as at 2023), predominantly older commercial properties with development potential in urban centers. The refurbishment of these buildings holds enormous potential for reducing CO₂ emissions. In 2021, Intershop carried out a detailed portfolio analysis and, with the support of Tend AG, developed a CO₂ reduction pathway tailored to its portfolio. This is visualized by the CO₂mpass web application, which displays the key figures at building, property and portfolio level, generates reports in real time and optimizes measures through simulations.
In summer 2022, the properties with the greatest and most urgent optimization potential were prioritized. On-site assessments made it possible to identify potential for optimizing operations. Measures were derived from this and evaluated in the CO₂ passport in terms of energy, emissions and cost savings. Four properties, including Puls 5, were selected based on their potential. With 26,000 square meters of space, the building complex is used for offices, commerce, education and gastronomy.
The potential of obvious optimizations
In the first optimization phase, Intershop focused on measures without structural interventions - so-called "low-hanging fruits". These included adjusting heating and ventilation curves, optimizing heat recovery and reducing system operation during off-peak times. With the support of the Honeywell technical team and Tend, these measures were implemented within a few months. Forecasts by CO₂mpass show annual savings of around 670 MWh of energy and CHF 70,000 in costs.
Economic efficiency always in view
Future investments in further optimization include the replacement of fossil fuels, renovation of the building envelope and the installation of photovoltaic systems. Economic efficiency remains a key criterion. Intershop also uses the CO₂mpass as a controlling tool to monitor progress and determine when to invest. Although these measures require considerable investment, they not only offer CO₂ savings, but also significant reductions in operating costs.
