˼ I N C O N V E R S AT I O N
22
ICONIC
The new normal As buildings are subject to increasingly stringent energy requirements, the real estate world is facing considerable challenges.
The sustainability challenges for 2050 The new Flemish energy targets require
— What can the construction industry do
every building to have an energy label A by
to build more sustainably?
2050. This presents significant challenges
Kristof: “People mainly think of the tech-
for homeowners and real estate developers.
nical measures when they consider sus-
But how do we achieve sustainable
tainable construction. Here at ION, we have
construction? This is what we ask Kristof
been thinking especially about how we can
Vanfleteren, CEO of ION, Jeroen Rabaey,
be sustainable as an organization. We have
co-founder of Noven, and Tinne Van der
defined three sustainability pillars around
Straeten, Federal Minister for Energy.
this: impact building, total cost of living, and communicate as one. These pillars are now part of our DNA. We also use the District Sustainability Meter, a tool provided by the Flemish government that allows us to measure how well we score compared to the legal framework and other companies. So, we are mindful of the technical measures but are also constantly thinking about how to implement sustainability in each new construction project.”
From left to right: Jeroen Rabaey (co-CEO and co-founder of Noven), Tinne Van der Straeten (Federal Minister for Energy) and Kristof Vanfleteren (CEO and co-founder).
