The European digital bank officially inaugurates Benelux's first zero-carbon office building in Luxembourg, Munsbach
Luxembourg, 6 June 2024 – Advanzia Bank today announces the inauguration of Emerald, the first zero-carbon office building in Luxembourg and the wider Benelux – a major step towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.
Nishant Fafalia, CEO of Advanzia Bank, comments: "The inauguration of this zero-carbon office building is not just a milestone moment for Advanzia in our commitment to sustainability, but also marks an important step in Luxembourg's transition to a sustainable future. This project is the result of an exemplary collaboration, demonstrating the ingenuity and commitment of all the persons involved. We are proud to contribute to a greener vision for Luxembourg."
Emerald certifications for sustainability, carbon neutrality and employee wellbeing
Emerald's design, construction and maintenance follow strict standards that not only prove sustainability and aim for carbon neutrality, but that also prioritise the health and wellbeing of Advanzia's most important resource, its people.
To meet industry-wide accepted and acknowledged sustainability standards, Emerald holds the BREEAM Excellent and DGNB Gold certification. In terms of minimising the carbon footprint, the building is certified according to ILFI's Zero Carbon criteria. A highly efficient heating, cooling and ventilation system, photovoltaic installations, rainwater usage, sun protection and light control together with a centralised controlling system help to analyse and optimise energy consumption and thus contribute to minimising Emerald's carbon footprint. In addition, 100% of the electricity consumed is generated from renewable energies.
The forthcoming WELL platinum certification prioritises the health, wellbeing and satisfaction of Advanzia's employees. The standard promotes physical activity (the building features a gym that is free to use for staff and Advanzia offers weekly training sessions), encourages healthy eating habits, and provides spaces for relaxation and mental rejuvenation (e.g. collaboration zones and coffee corners, an indoor patio and rooftop terrace).
The five elements of Feng Shui - earth, fire, wood, water, and metal - also played a role in the design of the building. Emerald's workspaces feature noise-reducing measures, ergonomic furniture and customisable lighting, while collaboration zones offer comfortable spaces for ad hoc meetings. Integrated biophilic design elements, such as greenery and natural materials like wood, promote a sense of tranquillity and reduce stress levels.
The Emerald building, owned by ANDANDO Real Estate, is leased to Advanzia Bank as the sole lessee and was designed under the lead of architectural office Architecture et Environnement.
A milestone moment for Advanzia, embedded in a wider sustainability strategy
Since Advanzia was founded in 2005, the bank has always fostered a culture of employee-led social and green initiatives, with Advanzia's employees choosing which local and global projects to support that have a positive impact on people and the planet. The bank is now transitioning from implementing various Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives to becoming a more sustainable bank that is committed to a clearly defined strategy in the field of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) aspects, and that keeps the interests of various stakeholders in mind: its employees, customers and partners, as well as the environment.
The inauguration of this zero-carbon building coincides with the Advanzia's official publication of its first external Sustainability Report, which outlines various strategic pillars on how Advanzia responsibly conducts its business, provides sustainable and digital credit card and payment solutions, respects and nurtures its more than 200 employees, and continues to make a positive impact on society and the environment.
Emerald certifications
- BREEAM, Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. BREEAM is the most widely used certification system for sustainable construction and considers impacts at regional, local and internal levels. BREEAM assesses the lifecycle of a property and measures the sustainability value in categories ranging from energy to ecology. Emerald has passed the BREEAM Excellent pre-certification and ranks #2 of all 94 BREEAM-rated properties in Luxembourg.
- DGNB, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen. To make sustainable building applicable on a practical level, measurable and comparable, the DGNB has developed a certification system that fosters a shared understanding of requirements and methods among all parties involved in development projects. DGNB certification considers the entire lifecycle of a project: impacts on the environment and resource consumption, and also regarding the cost of managing, operating and maintaining a building. Emerald has passed the pre-audit for the DGNB Gold label. The final certificates will be issued once the work on the building has been fully completed.
- ILFI, International Living Future Institute. Zero Carbon Certification is the world's first certified standard and is a global tool to showcase energy efficient buildings designed and operated in a way that takes full account of their carbon impact. By taking into account both operational and intrinsic carbon emissions, this certification provides a tool to demonstrate credible action towards sustainability and offers a vision of a future where buildings have a positive carbon footprint. Pre-certification has been successfully completed and the final certificate will be issued following a re-audit after the building has been in operation for one year.
- WELL building standard. The WELL certification advances human health through design interventions and operational protocols that are implemented in a building to foster a culture of health and wellbeing. The standard identifies, measures and monitors the building's characteristics related to air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. Advanzia Bank aims to reach the WELL platinum certification by the end of 2024.