Innovation

    EHL Real Estate has created a unique way to promote sustainability by helping clients make their buildings eco-friendly. Although EHL is not involved in construction, it plays a crucial role in shaping environmentally responsible real estate. It guides clients to include renewable energy solutions like photovoltaic solar panels on building facades and geothermal systems for energy-efficient heating. These innovations align with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by encouraging low-carbon energy sources in property management.

    EHL’s key innovation, the Sustainability Report, is the first of its kind in Austria’s real estate industry. This annual report shares in-depth insights and strategies to help clients and stakeholders adopt more sustainable practices. Through clear guidelines and data, EHL educates over 10,000 stakeholders, including property owners, architects, and engineers, on how to reduce environmental impacts, making sustainability accessible and achievable for clients. This report also ties into SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), as it advocates for resource-efficient building practices and long-lasting construction methods that minimize waste.

    The Sustainability Report reflects EHL’s commitment to responsible property management. By combining market insights with environmental guidance, EHL positions itself as a leader in sustainable real estate, promoting practices that support a healthier planet and community.

Inspiration

    EHL’s Managing Partner, who has been with the company for nearly 30 years, was motivated by a belief that real estate has to support future generations. “Real estate is built to last for decades, even centuries,” he explains, “so it must be responsible and sustainable. Our mission is to create value that respects the environment and our communities.” This perspective is reflected in EHL’s commitment to long-term sustainability goals and responsible business practices.

    The decision to create the Sustainability Report emerged from EHL’s desire to lead by example and encourage other real estate firms to take climate action seriously. “Our goal is not just to produce reports,” the Managing Partner says, “but to deeply embed ESG principles into everything we do. We see sustainability not as an obligation but as a strategic choice that benefits everyone—our clients, our employees, and the planet.” This mission is also driven by EHL’s core values: “honesty, reliability, and responsibility.” The Managing Partner emphasizes that EHL’s commitment to ESG and the UN SDGs goes beyond marketing—it’s a genuine effort to make positive, lasting changes in the real estate industry.

Overall impact

    In the short term, EHL’s Sustainability Report has enhanced the company’s brand, especially among clients and young professionals who value sustainability. By clearly documenting sustainable practices' environmental and economic benefits, the report has encouraged property owners to take action, including integrating renewable energy systems and eco-friendly building certifications. This transparency has strengthened EHL’s reputation, making it a trusted advisor for sustainable property solutions in Austria.

    EHL expects the Sustainability Report to drive lasting change within Austria’s real estate sector in the long term. By establishing best practices and raising awareness, EHL creates a ripple effect where clients, investors, and competitors begin to prioritize climate-conscious strategies. Evidence of the report’s impact includes positive stakeholder feedback, industry media coverage, and EHL’s Gold rating from EcoVadis, a sustainability rating agency. EHL has also seen an increase in employee engagement and loyalty, particularly from younger employees who value the company’s commitment to ESG principles. As sustainable real estate gains traction, EHL’s pioneering role is setting a new standard for responsible management in the industry, creating positive outcomes for both the environment and the company.

Business benefit

    The sustainability report is EHL’s real estate’s key innovation. The sustainability report benefits the business because of its exclusive report on the real estate market in Austria. The sustainability report is beneficial in various areas, including revenue growth, employment rates, retention growth, employee retention, new market openings, and new products and services as well as new investment opportunities. First, the sustainability report benefits various actors, including employees, stakeholders, clients, property owners, and architects. Existing salaried employees at EHL overall have had a higher retention rate in 2023 compared to 2022, leading to a decrease in preventative health care needed as well as time off.

    The report also benefits members interested in investing including stakeholders, clients, property owners, and architects because of their role in providing training and education, in return allowing stakeholders to contribute to the development and elaboration of EHL. Second, the sustainability report reveals the revenue growth with their decent work and economic growth. “EHL pursues a stable growth strategy along our defined value pairs “honesty and reliability”, “decisiveness and results orientation” and “family and responsibility” (EHL, 2023). Third, there have been new market openings and new products and services available since 2020/21 with sustainability because of the European Union’s (EU) taxonomy and environmental, social, and (corporate) (ESG) requirements. “The related requirements from project–financing banks also play a role here – and sustainability and environmental factors are now an integral part of the rental criteria for potential tenants” (EHL, 2023). Lastly, there have been new investment opportunities for EHL with “The EHL Asset classes” that include investment apartments and investment properties for a wide range of clients. Sustainability is an important practice that is embedded with the delivery of sustainable materials and green energy and technologies bringing greater value to properties. 

Social and environmental benefit

    This innovation, EHL is a real estate company that operates in Austria and Europe. EHL’s innovation, the sustainability report, benefits society and the environment because of its many sustainable practices and commitment to follow the UN global goals and ESG requirements. In fact, from the seventeen UN global goals, EHL practices five goals, including #3, good health and well-being, #8, decent work and economic growth, #11, sustainable cities and communities, #12 responsible consumption and production and #13 climate action. 

    EHL practices good health and well-being and decent work and economic growth with their inclusion of healthy working conditions, fair compensation, and social security. Many EHL employees confirmed that the new on-boarding processes and flexible work-life balance allowed for their long-term growth. “The independent institution “Great Place to Work” audited EHL extensively for the first time in 2017” (EHL, 2023). Second, EHL works towards building sustainable cities and communities by improving living conditions, expanding sustainable mobility, maintaining their company’s values, and providing affordable and attractive housing. Third, EHL practices responsible consumption and production as well as climate action by conserving production processes and reducing waste consumption. “Environmentally compatible, and resource-conserving production processes, the reduction of waste and emissions, and support for more sustainable consumption are further important goals” (EHL, 2023). For instance, EHL discontinued pre-printed brochures before client appointments and implemented a digital summary and tablet for property site viewing. Lastly, EHL follows climate change actions with their ESG-compatible management and decarbonization. This includes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, clean energy, and a call to action to onboard more communities and ecosystems. 

Interview

Michael Ehlmaier, Managing Partner of EHL Real Estate Company