Sustainable properties and certifications

Sustainable properties

Our greatest environmental impact lies in our core business – developing and managing properties. It’s also where we can make the biggest difference by improving our practices, influencing the value chain, and supporting industry development.

We have our own, ambitious goals but it is only when operators and sectors come together that properly significant changes begin to be realised. That’s why we participate in several industry initiatives working toward a climate-neutral construction and real estate sector, as well as other environmental initiatives. Of course, we also cooperate with our tenants to jointly contribute to reduced environmental impact.

På Wihlborgs har vi kontinuerligt fokus på att minska miljöpåverkan.

Wihlborgs långsiktiga mål är att 100 procent av våra fastigheter i koncernen ska vara miljöcertifierade.

På Wihlborgs förvaltar vi våra fastigheter på ett effektivt och hållbart sätt.

Green leases

When signing a lease with Wihlborgs, it is standard to sign a green lease. The green lease is a platform for cooperation between landlord and tenant in the environmental area. The agreement states, among other things, that we should cooperate to optimize the operating times for heating, cooling and ventilation in the premises. To make this successful, we need to work together with our tenants.

A bright louge area with large windows and sofas in the forefront.

The green lease describes the responsibilities of the landlord, the responsibilities of the tenant, and the shared responsibilities. It clearly defines the measures agreed upon by the tenant and landlord to reduce environmental impact in the areas of information and cooperation, energy, indoor environment, material choice, and waste management.

Wihlborgs’ Climate Efforts

Over the past 15 years, we have halved our direct climate emissions while doubling our total floor area.
We purchase only renewable energy where available.
We actively work to reduce climate impact from construction projects.
We are industry leaders in replacing cooling systems with low-impact alternatives in the event of leakage.
We continuously install new solar panel systems and electric vehicle charging stations.
All new buildings and existing office properties are environmentally certified.

The Janne Solution

The Janne Solution recovers heat and cooling, reducing climate impact and energy costs.

Learn more about the Janne Solution

Our own solar power systems

By installing our own solar power systems on our properties, we reduce the need for purchased energy and can generate renewable energy that is often used directly within the building. We also contribute to more resilient local energy systems by lowering peak demand, as solar power helps cover energy needs during certain periods.

Certified properties

An environmental certification is a testament to the sustainability of a building from an environmental and energy perspective, as well as a focus on a healthy indoor environment. We actively work to certify both new and existing buildings to ensure reduced environmental impact and a good working environment for those who work in the buildings.

We have a continuous focus on reducing environmental impact and developing properties with high environmental performance and a good working environment. Certified properties are a way to measure this work.

Target 2023 - 2025: 90% of our office properties in Sweden in terms of lettable floor area to be environmentally certified by the end of 2025. The long-term target is for 100 percent of the properties within the Group to be environmentally certified.

Vista – Environmental Building of the Year 2024

We’re proud that Vista was named Environmental Building of the Year at the Sweden Green Building Awards 2024. With ten floors and space for over 1,000 workplaces, Vista was developed with a strong focus on climate and well-being. The office building holds triple certification: Miljöbyggnad Gold, WELL, and NollCO2.

Boplatsen – Miljöbyggnad iDrift of the Year 2024

We’re delighted that Boplatsen in Malmö has been awarded Miljöbyggnad iDrift of the Year at the Sweden Green Building Awards 2024. The property holds a Silver rating, ensuring a healthy environment for those working in the building.

Hannes Hjerpe on Wihlborgs’ certification efforts

Our sustainability specialist explains why we certify and what the different certifications involve.

Read the interview

Miljöbyggnad

For a number of years, we have certified all our new construction projects according to the Swedish certification system Miljöbyggnad, usually at Gold level. Gold is a high level that only the most ambitious buildings can achieve and means that the building performs well above legal requirements. To reach Gold level, the building must be highly energy efficient, have good acoustic conditions and ventilation, use environmentally and health-friendly materials, and offer a very good overall indoor environment.

WELL

We have also begun health certifications in response to growing interest from customers in health-promoting workplaces. WELL is a health certification that focuses on the ten areas that research shows have the greatest impact on our well-being, such as nutrition, mind, community, sound, light, air, water, and movement.

NollCO2

NollCO2 is an add-on certification aimed at achieving net-zero climate impact for a new building over its entire life cycle. To certify a building according to NollCO2, carbon emissions from the production of building materials must be reduced by at least 30 percent compared to a similar reference building, and emissions from construction processes must be minimized. There is also a limit set for the building’s energy use. In addition, any remaining climate impact must be balanced through climate actions to achieve a net-zero result.

Miljöbyggnad iDrift

Miljöbyggnad iDrift focuses on indoor environment, health, climate impact, resources, and the condition of the building. A key aspect of this certification is the mandatory requirements that include tenants’ impact on the building’s environmental performance, which also leads to closer dialogue and stronger collaboration between us and our tenants.