| Sustainability |

Genuine sustainability in your project

That’s exactly what we work on – every day.

As the sustainability team at KVL, we bring ESG criteria, CO₂ strategies, energy efficiency, funding advice and training into the daily practice of our projects. We anchor sustainability in all our project management projects, offer our own ESG services, forge partnerships, volunteer, write specialist publications and hold ourselves accountable in our sustainability report.

Not because we have to – but because we believe every project counts. And because we are convinced that sustainable construction is not only possible, but essential for a great year 2050.
Zwei Männer diskutieren lächelnd vor einem Whiteboard mit bunten Haftnotizen in einem hellen Büro.Drei Personen arbeiten zusammen an einem Projekt mit bunten magnetischen Bauklötzen auf einem Tisch.

Sustainable Project Management

Sustainability is not an add-on for us – it’s a given. All projects receive straightforward access to the central sustainability department, regardless of the scope of services. This ensures ESG aspects are integrated early and practically into your project management. Our goal: sustainability as a natural part of every project. To achieve this, we continuously develop our methods – scientifically grounded and practice-oriented.

ESG Due Diligence

Whether single asset or portfolio – our ESG Due Diligence provides a sound foundation for your investment decisions. Built modularly, our audit approach flexibly adapts to your requirements: from a quick check to a comprehensive ESG analysis. You receive exactly the depth of information you need for purchase, sale or valuation – transparent, structured and investment-safe.

Strategy Development, Sustainability Strategy Tool

Sustainability is not an end in itself – it must fit the project and create real added value. We support you in developing a well-founded sustainability strategy that takes into account both your business objectives and regulatory requirements. In structured workshops, we work with you to identify potential, define clear goals and derive concrete measures. This creates the foundation for future-proof decisions – from the very beginning.

Funding Consulting

Rising ESG requirements and construction costs make funding a decisive success factor. We keep you informed about the dynamic funding landscape – from municipal programmes to federal subsidies such as KfW or BAFA. We identify suitable funding options for your project, relieve your teams and create transparency about financial potential – across Germany and beyond.

Sustainability Training

Our experts provide practical knowledge on ESG, EU taxonomy, certification systems and genuine sustainability in construction. Whether as a standalone format or complementing ongoing projects – the content is diverse, up to date and aimed at companies that want to not just implement sustainability, but truly understand it.

Energy Consulting

As officially accredited energy consultants under BAFA and KfW, we support you with the energy assessment of your properties. Whether renovation or new build – we analyse the current energy status, identify optimisation potential and provide reliable recommendations for future-proof building development. Technically sound, independent and always up to date with the latest requirements.

Sustainable Construction

Genuine sustainability in the construction sector is far more than CO₂ reduction or energy efficiency.

It encompasses the responsible use of resources, the selection of healthy and durable materials, the promotion of biodiversity and microclimate, and considers social impacts and user comfort, economic viability, transparent governance and resilient processes. Sustainability means creating buildings that work today and endure tomorrow – ecologically, economically and socially.

From idea to operation

Sustainability belongs in all project phases

Sustainability has the greatest impact when it is considered from the very start. That’s why we accompany projects across all phases – strategically, operationally and with foresight:

I want to build!

In the early concept phase, we support clients in defining sustainability goals, identifying risks and seizing opportunities. New build strategy development, sustainable project management, new build due diligence, plan reviews, funding consulting, energy consulting, training.

I am building!

During planning and implementation, we ensure sustainability is integrated into all processes – from material selection to schedule planning. Strategy development, sustainable project management, plan reviews, funding consulting, energy consulting, training.

I am operating!

Even after completion, we continue to support projects. We think in lifecycle terms and help ensure buildings are operated efficiently, resiliently and in a future-proof manner over the long term. Existing building strategy development, existing building due diligence, funding consulting, energy consulting, training.

We are robustly positioned. We have numerous experts in all areas relevant to construction operations and the construction and real estate industry.

Junger Mann mit hellbraunen Haaren und schwarzen Hemd, der lächelnd die Arme vor der Brust verschränkt.
Benjamin Pleuser
Hamburg
Frau mit langen blonden Haaren trägt einen rosa Blazer und blickt selbstbewusst in die Kamera.
Luana Cortis
München / Berlin
Junger Mann mit kurzen Haaren, der in einem schwarzen Sakko und weißem Hemd lächelnd die Arme verschränkt.
Daniel Ettenhuber
München
Lächelnder Mann mit Brille und schwarzen Rollkragenpullover, die Arme verschränkt.
Niklas Erdle
München
Junge lächelnde Frau mit langem blondem Haar, die schwarze Jacke trägt und die Arme verschränkt.
Celine Specht-Schell
Hamburg
Abstraktes rundes Muster mit überlappenden schwarzen, weißen und goldenen geometrischen Formen.
Our work in the KVL Group sustainability team is organised around six areas of impact. We advise on ESG topics and bring sustainability aspects specifically into KVL’s project work. This is not just about individual measures, but about advancing sustainability practice in the real estate industry – technically, strategically and structurally.
We also advocate for sustainable processes and decisions internally within the company. In addition, we are involved – partly on a voluntary basis – in professional associations and networks to strengthen the discourse and set new impulses. Partnerships are not a side matter for us, but a central lever for impact. Because sustainable construction only succeeds through collaboration.

Sustainability needs exchange.

That’s why we are actively involved in professional networks and associations. We co-founded the Association for Building in Existing Stock (Verband für Bauen im Bestand e. V.) and are represented on its board. At BFW, we lead the sustainability working group. We also contribute our perspectives in DVP and in collaboration with TU Berlin – professionally, practically and with the goal of advancing the industry.

Sustainability at our company

Thinking beyond projects

Sustainability is not an add-on for us, but a central principle of our entrepreneurial activity. As a team for sustainable construction, we accompany projects with sound ESG expertise – from strategy development through due diligence to energy consulting. But our responsibility does not end with individual construction projects. We understand sustainability as a holistic task. That is why we have defined four fields of action at KVL in which we systematically develop our impact:

Employees

We create a working environment built on trust, diversity and development. Our teams benefit from flexible working models, targeted training and a company culture that promotes personal responsibility and team spirit.

Social engagement

We take responsibility beyond our core business. Whether through educational projects, voluntary work or targeted support of social initiatives – we want to make a positive contribution to society.

Environment

We continuously work to reduce our ecological footprint – through climate-conscious mobility, resource-efficient office locations and sustainable procurement. We also prioritise transparency and measurable targets internally.

Real estate industry

With our services, we actively shape the transformation of the construction and real estate industry. We support our clients in effectively anchoring sustainability in their projects – economically, ecologically and socially.

These four areas form the foundation of our understanding of sustainability.

To the report!
"Sustainable thinking and action worthy of the name aims for longevity and flexibility, rather than high-tech and complexity."
Luana Cortis, Managing Partner
Frau mit langen blonden Haaren trägt einen rosa Blazer und blickt selbstbewusst in die Kamera.

What you want to know about sustainability

ESG, CO₂ strategies, funding, certification – where do you start, and what actually makes a difference? Here we answer the questions we are asked most often about sustainability in construction.

How much of Germany’s CO₂ output comes from the construction sector?

What does "sustainable project management" mean at KVL in concrete terms?

What is an ESG Due Diligence and what is it needed for?

Can KVL advise on funding within projects?

Is KVL officially accredited as an energy consultant?

Does KVL offer sustainability training for companies?

Which professional associations is KVL involved in for sustainable construction?

Which publications on sustainable construction has KVL co-written?

What does sustainability mean at KVL beyond individual projects?

Related Literature

Sustainability Through Project Management

Compendium of Sustainable Buildings - Structural Engineering

In the article "Sustainability Through Project Management," the KVL Group presents a comprehensive chapter examining the role of holistic project management in the implementation of sustainable buildings throughout their entire lifecycle. Drawing on practical experience, current regulations, and methodological approaches, the publication demonstrates how ecological, economic, and social goals can be systematically integrated into project preparation, planning, execution, and completion. A particular focus is placed on the early development of project-specific sustainability strategies, bridging competency gaps on the client side, and coordinating interdisciplinary expertise—ranging from LCA/LCC, subsidies, and competitions to integrated planning, lean construction, and circular building approaches.

The chapter was authored by Luana Cortis, Niklas Erdle, and Benjamin Pleuser and combines practical tools with clear recommendations for action. It is part of the "Compendium of Sustainable Buildings – Structural Engineering" (Kompendium Nachhaltige Bauwerke – Hochbauten), a living publication from Springer Verlag being released in stages since 2025, with content developed in close collaboration with the Technical University of Munich. Through this work, our team makes a significant contribution to the advancement of modern, responsible project management for sustainable construction projects.

//  Author/Authors
Luana Cortis, Niklas Erdle, Benjamin Pleuser
//  Edition
//  First Publication
2025

Legal Handbook for Sustainable Planning, Construction, and Operation

Implementing ESG Requirements

Sustainability and climate protection play a central role in the construction and real estate industry. Whether through national laws, requirements from funding providers such as the KfW, or European taxonomy regulations, the requirements are diverse. However, terms like sustainability or ESG are not always used consistently, and requirements vary—practical implementation in real estate contracts is still in its infancy. In addition to legal challenges, a specific catalog of requirements for real estate has emerged in practice: life cycle assessments, the CRREM pathway, or ESG verifications are still uncharted territory for many legal practitioners.

For the first time, this legal handbook offers a holistic view of all essential legal areas affected by sustainability in the building sector. This standard reference work is not limited to specific phases but is oriented toward the life cycle of the property. From planning and construction to usage, all essential phases and the associated legal issues of sustainability are covered. The legal areas involved include: architectural law, project management law, public building law, energy law, procurement law, private construction law, and tenancy law. Specific aspects of insurance and finance law are also taken into account.

The legal handbook contains numerous practical tips and sample contract clauses.

Luana Cortis from KVL Projektentwicklung Plus has written a chapter for this publication on real estate financing in the context of sustainability aspects and ESG.

//  Author/Authors
Florian Dressel, Anne Baureis
//  Edition
1st Edition
//  First Publication
09/11/2024

Systemic Sustainability

Sector-specific and interdisciplinary perspectives

Climate change is no longer a distant threat—it is a reality with tangible impacts on our environment, economy, and society. This book examines the complex challenges and potential solutions for a sustainable transformation across key sectors, including construction, transport, agriculture, and consumer behavior. It bridges the gap between scientific perspectives and practical recommendations, demonstrating how to systematically resolve conflicts between climate protection, economic viability, and social development.

In the chapter "Thinking Sustainability in Construction," Benjamin Pleuser and Prof. Dr. Markus G. Viering analyze the role of the building sector in achieving climate goals. With a focus on life cycle assessments, ESG criteria, and circular materials, it becomes clear: sustainable construction is not just an option, but a prerequisite for future-proof architecture and real estate development.

//  Author/Authors
Matthias Kramer
//  Edition
1st Edition
//  First Publication
05/21/2025

Our CO₂ clock is ticking

And it doesn’t show the time, but what we have left:

A global remaining budget of emissions that we must not exceed if we want to stay within the 1.5 °C limit. But don’t worry, this is not a doomsday countdown. It’s more like an alarm clock – one that reminds us: now is the moment to act!

And what we need to keep in mind: the construction sector has an enormous lever!

Because it causes around one third of all CO₂ emissions worldwide. In Germany even more: 40% of emissions come directly or indirectly from the construction sector. So: if we want to meet the 1.5°C target, we need to start with construction. And not at some point in the future – but today, here and now.
Junger Mann mit hellbraunen Haaren und schwarzen Hemd, der lächelnd die Arme vor der Brust verschränkt.
You want to build sustainably. We show you how.
Benjamin Pleuser
Sustainability Expert
benjamin.pleuser@kvlgroup.com+49 40 325285515