Awareness Campaign: Price vs. Value
Heidi Felderer Bau, based in Eppan, is a founding member of VIVIUS and is among the specialist firms in the Klimahaus sector. For years, even as a traditional company in the field of conventional building construction, they have been working to raise awareness of sustainable building. “It’s important that we, too, continue to evolve in order to open up new perspectives for the future of construction,” Heidi Felderer is convinced.
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Renovating existing buildings is one of the most important levers for a sustainable building culture. This is because existing buildings already contain enormous value: materials, energy, space, infrastructure, and often prime locations as well. Those who renovate existing buildings continue to make use of these resources rather than destroying them through demolition and replacing them with new material flows. This is particularly crucial from an environmental perspective.
Preserving and renovating existing buildings reduces material consumption, prevents additional emissions, and helps limit further land sealing. At the same time, renovating existing buildings strengthens town centers, neighborhoods, and established structures, because construction continues in places where life is already happening. From a technical standpoint, too, the existing building stock represents a high standard of quality, as renovation projects require close attention to detail, interdisciplinary planning, and intelligent solutions. They demonstrate that the future does not always lie in starting from scratch, but often in smart, thoughtful renovation.
There is also an economic aspect to consider: renovating existing buildings is not automatically more expensive or less safe; rather, it simply requires a different approach to planning. By employing the right methods, conducting a thorough analysis of the existing structure, and implementing sound risk management, it is possible to develop robust and sustainable solutions. It is crucial to consider cost-effectiveness not only in the short term but over the entire life cycle.
Renovating existing buildings therefore means more than just refurbishment.
It means seeing what already exists as an opportunity: for the climate, for the community, for the people, and for a building practice that uses resources responsibly.
Anyone talking about sustainable construction today must focus on the existing building stock. After all, a true transformation in construction does not come about solely through more efficient new buildings. It arises above all when existing structures are viewed in a new light, wisely reused, and strategically developed.
Renovating existing buildings is therefore not a niche topic. It is a key issue. It combines climate protection with building culture, resource conservation with economic efficiency, and urban development with social responsibility. It requires greater planning expertise, more collaboration, and the courage to view what already exists not as a burden, but as an opportunity.
One thing is clear: not everything needs to be preserved.
But there is much more that should be examined, put into practice, and thought through before demolition becomes the quick fix. After all, the future isn’t just created from scratch. The future takes shape where we value what already exists and build on it wisely.
Demolition means throwing away energy, materials, and history.
Renovating existing buildings means conserving resources, reducing CO₂, and valuing what already exists.
The construction transition cannot succeed without the existing building stock
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