BNP Paribas building in Luxembourg-Kirchberg;
BNP Paribas in Luxembourg has earned triple environmental certification at European level, for Exceptional HQE, Excellent BREEAM and Gold DGNB awards.
During the design phase of the new Kirchberg Banking Centre for the BNP Paribas Group in Luxembourg with its oKsigen and eKinox buildings, the Group, in line with its approach as a socially responsible company, set itself the challenge of earning triple environmental certification at European level for the project: HQE (Haute Qualité Environnementale) in France, BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) in the United Kingdom and DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen) in Germany.
To that end, the bank paid particularly close attention to ecologically responsible technologies, minimising the consumption of energy and natural resources, as well as to the health, comfort and well-being of users.
oKsigen and eKinox are highly energy-efficient buildings in which energy consumption is optimised. This approach also involves integrating renewable energy, for example by using photovoltaic solar panels installed on-site. In order to limit the consumption of potable water, a rainwater collection system was installed with a view to supplying water for the washroom facilities and cooling towers, and watering green spaces.
Effective monitoring of energy and water consumption is guaranteed through high-performance regulation and technical management of the building. Air flow and lighting can be regulated depending on the actual usage of the spaces, and blinds can be raised and lowered as sunlight moves across the buildings’ facades.
To ensure ecologically responsible waste management, the bank has implemented a careful waste sorting process that complies with the SuperDrecksKëscht® standard. Meanwhile, organic waste resulting from the preparation of meals in the company’s restaurants is collected and sent to a biogas production facility.
The ecological quality of the site and its biodiversity (vegetation suited to the climate and exposure, plant varieties that are predominantly non-allergenic and non-toxic) offer welcoming outdoor spaces for both users and local residents. Green roofs make up almost half of the roof area.
Marc Lenert, BGL BNP Paribas Management Board member, said “We are particularly proud not only of achieving triple HQE, BREEAM and DGNB certification but also of the very high levels we received for each certificate, namely ‘exceptional’ for HQE, ‘excellent’ for BREEAM and ‘gold’ for DGNB. The oKsigen and eKinox buildings mark the beginning of a new phase in our environmental policy, which is already deeply rooted within our company. Earning these certificates inspires us to redouble our efforts in this regard by continuing to follow an integrated approach that combines environmental protection, minimal consumption of energy and natural resources, and protecting the health and comfort of users.”
