Revive founder Nicolas Bearelle on sustainable construction
“Sustainability truly doesn’t have to be more expensive than the classical patterns. Innovation and technology can help the real estate sector – and therefore consumers – reduce costs”, says Nicolas Bearelle, founder of project developer Revive. In the lead-up to Futurebuild Belgium, the trade show that spotlights sustainability and innovation, Realty Talks spoke with one of the undisputed pioneers of sustainability in the sector. Even fifteen years ago, at a time when barely anyone had heard of the term ‘sustainability’, they were already leading the charge. Bearelle explains to Realty Talks how the sector can truly make a sustainable difference, even during challenging times.
More than simply ticking boxes
Nicolas Bearelle begins our conversation by stating that sustainability is more than a buzzword to him. “Revive aims to make ‘impact investments’, where the focus is on intention and added value”, says Nicolas Bearelle. “Sustainability is about more than simply ticking boxes. It has to be intentional. Furthermore, everything we do has to exceed the legal requirements. Think of rainwater harvesting, for example. If that is mandatory, we don’t see it as making a real impact.”
Revive’s so-called IRIS model represents an integrated approach based on international principles and guidelines, such as those of the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN). Among other things, the focus is on “embodied carbon”, the carbon emissions of buildings over the course of their entire life cycle, including materials, transport and construction. The target must be a 30% reduction of construction emissions by the year 2030.
“Today, new construction projects produce circa 550 kg of CO2 per square metre. Here at Revive, we aim to reduce that number to just 300 kg of CO2 per square metre”, Bearelle stresses. To achieve that goal, Revive is experimenting with the use of biobased materials, among other things.
Matching reality
However, ESG is no longer just about ecological factors; the real estate sector can and must also make a social impact. “The real estate sector must therefore develop neighbourhoods where people can truly connect, with a focus on social cohesion”, Bearelle says. Practically all Revive projects therefore include e.g. a community centre that can host neighbourhood initiatives and community activities. “Additionally, we will remain active in a neighbourhood for up to three years to stimulate social connections, until neighbourhood committees have been formed that can take over this role”, he continues.
Co-living also plays an increasingly important role. “In Brussels, more than half of the two-bedroom apartments are being let to single people living together. We must embrace innovative housing solutions that are both affordable and high quality”, Bearelle says. He dislikes overly rigid and excessive urban planning regulations that e.g. prescribe too large surface areas, because they do not reflect the reality of smaller households. “With better design, we can realise perfect quality homes on just 70 square metres.”
A world of difference
It is impossible to avoid the subject of affordability. This continues to be one of the key challenges of the real estate sector. Bearelle points out that reducing energy costs can be an important factor in improving affordability. “If a family is able to reduce its annual energy bill from €2,500 to just €500, they will have more money for rent or to pay off a home loan. For many families, that makes a world of difference.”
By looking beyond the direct housing costs, Revive demonstrates that sustainable neighbourhoods are not only better for the environment, but can also be more appealing financially. “An integrated approach to transport, energy and housing makes living more accessible to a wider target group, without compromising on quality.”
Reducing costs and avoiding inefficiencies
A commonly heard criticism of sustainable construction is the alleged higher cost price. Bearelle has a different view: “Sustainability doesn’t have to cost more. Innovation and technology help us to reduce costs. Working closely with architects and contractors at an early stage allows us to avoid inefficiencies and add value. At Revive, we therefore collaborate with proptech companies to utilise new techniques such as prefab and modular construction methods. In some cases, this helped us reduce construction costs by as much as 10%.”
The choice for sustainability is also driven by consumers. “Today, no one wants to buy a home with a gas boiler. People have become much more conscious of the environment. We have to take their expectations seriously”, Bearelle emphasises. This faith in the consumer is essential for the success of sustainable innovations.
Future perspective
For his sector, Bearelle advocates self-regulation and standards that make sustainability transparent and prevent greenwashing. “We have to create a level playing field to ensure that truly impactful projects stand out”, he says. “European standards for building life cycle analyses can help with that, so that materials such as timber construction are fairly assessed.”
Futurebuild Belgium and Realty Talks offer experts in and outside the real estate sector a unique platform for exploring these and other ideas. Are you eager to share your vision on sustainability and innovation in the real estate sector? Let us know.
