A trend that has affected the real estate market in recent years in Italy and, in the interim, the green one. is called “Wellness Real Estate”: For those who have never heard of it, it is a trend that is changing the global construction market, increasing the demand for residential and commercial properties rapidly and continuously. Incorporate an element of well-being into design, technologies and building materials.. Buildings and homes, in short, for better and more sustainable living.
According to a recent report prepared by the Global Wellness Institute, the global wellness real estate market will exceed $900 billion by 2028, with a record growth of +108% between 2023 and 2028. Will be. Europe, with an average annual growth rate of +20.1%, is second only to Latin America and the Caribbean region (+22%), whileItalywith a value equal to 2.58 billion dollars in 2023 (double that of 2019) Top 15 leading market countries With a CAGR (average percentage growth) of 19%, which is higher than the global reach of 18%.
“The real estate, residential and commercial sectors are increasingly integrating elements of well-being into design, materials and construction techniques. This is leading to the global market confirmation of this new revolutionary trend, well-being real estate, This is also driven by the growing demand from an increasingly environmentally and wellness-conscious public.” The professor tells QuiFinanza. A leading Italian startup in the cleantech sector, REair was founded by Angelo Del Favero, Managing Director of Research and Development, in September 2019 in Milan by a team of young entrepreneurs and scientific researchers. It’s no coincidence that health and green are two worlds that are inexorably and increasingly intertwined, as evidenced by the focus on COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan in recent days.
Professor del Favero, the increasing focus on people’s health and well-being also increases the need to meet the new needs of the real estate sector. We have now entered the era of “healthy buildings”…
Absolutely yes. Key European statistics on public health and buildings show that they still use a lot of energy, emit more greenhouse gases and lack investment in building renovation. Indeed, the European Commission recognizes this. The building As the main energy consumers in the EU, because they contribute 40% of energy consumption etc 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. To meet these needs, we are investing more and more in building healthy buildings.
How can we explain if we want to simplify?
As indicated by the Healthy Buildings Barometer 2024 developed by BPIE – Buildings Performance Institute Europe, they are Features designed to meet human needs, built and managed in a sustainable, flexible and resilient manner.. They empower and center the needs of those who live and/or experience them and, more importantly, they improve the mental and physical health of those who choose them. Cost reduction Long-term operational and maintenance through energy efficiency and green resources used in construction.
The EU, based on its new mandate, will be increasingly committed to finding solutions to be able to guarantee the financing of the environmental and energy transition. But it seems pretty clear that financial commitment alone is not enough. Is it necessary to broaden the investment horizon and focus?
There is no doubt about it. Alone, the strategic and financial commitment of Brussels and individual Member States in favor of medium-term green policies is no longer sufficient to ensure a sound environmental transition even within the European construction sector. Given the high levels of pollution affecting the European continent, it becomes a priority and cannot be postponed any longer for governments to combine it with the use of innovative and scientifically validated technologies, which It has a direct impact on reducing pollution. For the construction industry to continue to make progress against ESG goals, we must embrace innovation in the sector as quickly as possible.
What are the most promising green technologies in the real estate sector today?
Definitely photocatalysis With photocatalytic coatings and intelligent air purifiers, the REair invention is 100% Italian and 100% green. but also technologies forSound insulation and intelligent noise control, viaCool stuffUse on cool surfaces that reflect light and heat. Then there they are. Circadian lighting systemwhich mimic the natural cycle of sunlight thanks to LEDs. We have too. Environmental sensors and IoT systems to ensure air quality, environmental conditions monitoring and automatic management of buildings, so-called BMS. without forgetting Design biofilico By incorporating natural elements, such as walls, green roofs and open spaces; gave Modular and replaceable synthetic products; gave Digital technologies And BIM modeling (Building Information Modeling) Use of sustainable and non-toxic building materials, including Recycled materials Like glass, wood and plastic. And finally the most classic solutions, so to speak, but constantly evolving, such as the installation of solar panels and other energy efficiency technologies with the use of renewable energy and energy storage systems.
Can you explain your invention, photocatalysis, better: how does it work?
This is a range Transparent, nanotechnology, environmental coatings, Applicable in any environment and on any surface, indoors and outdoors, activated by exploiting Joe’s principle. photocatalysisa powerful Oxidation process It works on a physical and non-chemical basis, so it is 100% green and it kills bacteria, viruses, mold, fungi, volatile organic compounds (VOC), nitrogen oxides (NOx), organic PM dust and other agents. is actively decomposable. Harmful pathogens, converting them into harmless by-products such as salts, carbon dioxide and water.
And what are the potentials of this type of technology from an ethical perspective?
Huge With this innovation we wanted to embody the concept of “Hidden Forests“, rapidly achieving healthier air and improving the well-being of people inside and outside buildings. We want to promote pollution by birth. photocatalytic islands able to do Transforming cities into living and sustainable ecosystemsBut to do so, it is necessary to democratize sustainability by adopting applications, which are functional from the center to the urban areas, which are able to hold the three dimensions together. Health, environment and social equity.
It is no coincidence that sustainable buildings are being built all over the world, which is also helping to reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry. Any examples of famous healthy buildings?
Sustainable building is becoming increasingly popular as engineers and architects design and construct green structures to meet the demands of an environmentally conscious public. I can quote. Shanghai TowerWhich is the tallest LEED Platinum certified building on the planet with its 128 floors and 632 meters height. gave Heat reflective ceramic facades Headquarters skyscraper Bank of America in New York; 575 solar panels installed on the roof Bullet Center in Seattle And, again, this Seat production plant at Martorialnear Barcelona, whose 53,000 rooftop solar panels represent the largest inventory of solar panels in the automotive sector. Finally, I can’t forgetOlympic House in Lausannewhich holds LEED v4 Platinum certification for its resource-efficient and energy-saving measures, with over 95% of the materials used in the construction being recycled to conserve natural resources.
And in Italy?
In Italy our eCoating technology that we were talking about earlier has been used on the facades of buildings e.g. Luxottica Buildings. e Monte Rosa 91 in Milan. But also in the indoor medical sector, in various hospital facilities, such as pediatric surgery clinics Milan Polyclinicand within Venice and Treviso Airports.
