Healthy and sustainable housing

We try to fulfil YIT’s mission in our projects: environmental friendliness is one of the keystones of the YIT philosophy and several environmental goals are set in the corporate strategy. We are looking for and implementing environmentally sustainable solutions during construction, as well as in the subsequent operation of the building. The so-called green construction represents a way to protect nature and the environment, while also bringing more comfortable and healthier living for its inhabitants.

As part of the ESG (Environment, Social and Corporate Governance) strategy, we have updated our standards in Environmental and Social areas as well as the Governance of public affairs.

EnergyEnergy

More than 50% OF CO₂ emissions in our projects are produced during the phase of using the facility. Thus, during the design process, we try to think about heating, electricity consumption, cooling, ventilation and lighting solutions that will minimize the environmental burden during operations. For this reason, we install, for example, solar systems, LED lighting, controlled ventilation with heat recovery and charging stations for electric vehicles. Our projects are designed in rating B according to the Display Energy Certificates (DEC). Thus, they are very economical buildings.

Photovoltaic power plants, or solar power plants, fall into the category of renewable energy sources. They use an inexhaustible source of energy, solar radiation, and do not produce any emissions during production. Thanks to these characteristics, they are currently very popular in the current fight against climate change. The first solar power plant will become part of our VESI Hostivař project. Thanks to the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof of building E, the apartment complex will gain electricity, which will be used to illuminate common areas and for ventilation. Photovoltaic panels will be placed on the roof of building E with an ideal orientation and slope. By installing a PV plant, we will achieve production of approximately 8 MWh per year and also reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 5 tonnes per year.

Compared to traditional incandescent lamps, the power savings of LED light sources are up to 90%. At the same time, they surpass them with their long life and easy recycling. In our projects, we use LED lighting in the common areas of buildings.

In the KORU Vinohradská and HYACINT Modřany projects we installed a system of controlled ventilation with heat recovery. Its principle is based on a recuperation unit, which draws heat from the exhaust air while using it to heat the incoming air from outside. This ensures fresh air throughout the day, protects the interior from the formation of mould and window moistening, and moreover further reduces heating costs. We will also integrate the system into the KEMI and RANUA stages of the LAPPI Hloubětín project and are also planning it for other upcoming projects.

We have also decided to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the area of transportation. These are largely produced by passenger cars, so we support alternative conveyance methods. Thus, bike rooms are also located in our projects and in one of our current projects, PARVI Cibulka, we are planning to install charging stations for electric vehicles.

MaterialsMaterials

Another almost 40% of CO₂ emissions fall within the scope of primary raw material extraction and construction material production. Therefore, we choose materials and products with issued EPDs, i.e., with a minimal environmental impact, for our projects. For wood, we adhere to FSC or PEFC certification.

When choosing materials and products, we apply the principles of a circular economy, i.e., the use of recycled products. For example, classic concrete is the second most widely-used building material in the world and accounts for 3 to 8 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. For this reason, we started using "green" concrete, i.e., concrete from recycled aggregate.

Its main advantages include saving natural resources and the energy for their extraction, supporting the circular economy by using secondary materials and reducing the carbon footprint. Its lower coefficient of thermal conductivity also contributes to improving the energy performance of buildings. For the first time we use this material in the VESI Hostivař project.

As part of the new innovations, we will be introducing the advanced technology of prefabricated bathrooms, which will be part of the LAPPI Hloubětín project and also the HAPPI Milánská project, where we are planning to incorporate even more prefabricated elements.

Greenery and biodiversityGreenery and biodiversity

The planting of new trees, shrubs, lawns and flower beds is also a matter of course in our projects. If technically possible, we also design intensive and extensive green roofs. We plan to include loggeries and nesting boxes in our projects.

WaterWater

The basic objectives of all YIT projects include the gentle handling of water. We therefore implement elements to capture rainwater where it falls and its subsequent use for the watering of greenery in public spaces or in front gardens. Rainwater, especially from roofs, accumulates in retention and accumulation tanks in the projects through an ingenious system of interconnected grass belts and furrows. This system, which effectively uses rainfall water, was first implemented in the KOIVU Zličín project.

We then brought our rich experience to the SUOMI Hloubětín project, which has become a prime example of the fact that housing construction can also be conducted with an emphasis on environmental quality and thus contribute to minimising climate risks. It is one of the first projects implementing a LID system (rainwater disposal) on such a scale in the territory of Prague. It was also built entirely at our expense and without drawing subsidies.

Within the complex we have created a connected system of rainwater disposal, the aim of which is to work with rainwater and keep it in the locality. It has its visible elements on the surface, but also a complex system of connected pipes leading under it. With this efficient system, where rainwater is absorbed right at the location of precipitation and used to the maximum extent, we responsibly manage water and contribute to the restoration and conservation of biodiversity in the landscape. The visible depressions in the terrain of the complex thus do not only have a technical function, but also a huge ecological contribution in the area.

Waste managementWaste management

In all our projects you will find basic containers for sorted waste (paper, plastic, glass), and in some cases also containers for bio-waste or composters. If there are buildings slated for demolition in the locations of new projects, we try to reuse as much of the construction demolition waste as possible.

Sustainability in our projectsSustainability in our projects

We place an emphasis on environmental friendliness, which also saves money for citizens in the long term. For example, building F in the HYACINT Modřany project was even built in the most economical energy rating "A". And it was the first passive apartment building in the Czech Republic to receive the "Certified Passive House Project" certificate from the Passive House Centre and, after the final approval, the "Certified Passive House" certificate.

In order to obtain the certificates, it had to meet the very strict internationally-recognised criteria set by Germany’s Passivhaus Institute. Thus, Building F offers thermal comfort throughout the year, ensured by a system of controlled ventilation with heat recovery. The central recovery unit automatically feeds clean fresh air into the apartments without drafts. In addition, dust and dirt is filtered out of the incoming air, which is especially appreciated by allergy sufferers and people prone to illnesses.
The first project with a complex system of rainwater collection using a “soft infrastructure” in the Czech Republic was the KOIVU Zličín residential complex. The term “soft infrastructure” represents an ingenious system of accumulation, seepage, retention and evaporation surfaces that effectively uses rain water and prevents it from flowing into the sewer without being used. The water retained here is used, among other things, to irrigate the entire complex with an area of almost 30,000 m² and thus to promote the growth of local vegetation.
We are building the VESI Hostivař project on the territory of the former Kaplan sawmill. Before the construction began, we removed almost a dozen dilapidated warehouse buildings and concrete area roads. At the same time, we destroyed the remnants of building materials and piles of rubbish that had accumulated in the crumbling halls. Our goal is to cultivate neglected areas and bring life back to places that lacked meaningful use.
In addition, we will be using “green” concrete, i.e., concrete where natural aggregate is completely replaced by a crushed mixture of demolition waste, for the first time in this project. Its main advantages include saving natural resources and the energy for their extraction, supporting the circular economy by using secondary materials and reducing the carbon footprint. Its lower coefficient of thermal conductivity also contributes to improving the energy performance of buildings. In the VESI Hostivař project, concrete from recycled aggregate will be used in the foundation as well as for some wall and filler constructions. This will reduce CO₂ emissions by almost 3%.
In the framework of sustainable development, we also reconstruct old, dilapidated or unused objects. An example of this was the PARVI Cibulka project, which is being created by the conversion of the former Meopta factory into modern loft-type housing. The main aim is to highlight the industrial soul of the former factory. That’s why we are keeping the original structure with its size and proportions and retaining its industrial appearance with several elements, such as the original staircases, for example.

The PARVI Cibulka project stands opposite the already completed AALTO Cibulka residence. Both are connected by a shared reception and a private courtyard with a green park with a water element, a seating area and a playground for children.
On the site of the former garden colony on an area of nine hectares, we are building our largest project, SUOMI Hloubětín. Here we transformed the previously neglected brownfield area into a new modern city neighbourhood with almost 900 apartments. Commercial zones, new infrastructure and areas for leisure activities as well as rest areas are also going up in a modern complex full of greenery. For families with children there is also a children's playground and a new preschool.
In the SUOMI Hloubětín project, we revitalized part of the Rokytka stream, which we supplemented with a built in system of channels, furrows and seepage and retention tanks for the ecological management of water. Thanks to new meanders and flood plains, the revitalized section of the stream several hundred metres long provides better water retention while creating a natural biotope for aquatic animals, insects and birds. We transformed the neglected banks of the river into a relaxation zone that the general public can use for rest and leisure. First of all, however, we had to remove over 100 tons of waste, because the surroundings of Rokytka had been used as an illegal dumping site, and we also stabilised the slopes and created a new path. We also cleaned the bottom of the stream and we planted water plants in the meanders.
Ready-made prefabricated elements are brought by trucks straight to the construction site, and here cranes insert them into the structure of the house. Beforehand, it is produced under strict supervision in a specialized factory - thanks to which everything is prepared in a more pleasant and safer environment. This modern technology brings even higher precision and better quality to our buildings. At the same time, it reduces noise and dust, so that the surroundings of the construction site are more pleasant for the life and work of employees during construction. Among the projects in which we used this technology are LAPPI Hloubětín (KEMI, RANUA, TORNIO), SUOMI Hloubětín (PORI), VESI Hostivař, HAPPI Milánská or RIVI Bachova.

We create a better environment for lifeWe create a better environment for life

Water

Water conservation is one of the fundamental goals of all YIT projects. The basic objectives of all YIT projects include the gentle handling of water. We, therefore, implement elements to capture rainwater at the point of impact and its subsequent use for watering greenery in public spaces or front gardens.

Energy

Building construction and their operation are responsible for 38% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Energy-saving construction and energy-saving during the operation of buildings is one of the priorities of the EU. At YIT, we have been paying attention to sustainability in the construction of new apartments for years, and we do everything to ensure that our projects are energy efficient even during operation.

Materials

As part of saving natural resources, reducing CO2 and innovating construction, we place great emphasis on the materials used.

Brownfields, recycling, greenery

Natural resources and land on Earth are not unlimited. With this awareness, at YIT, we strive to approach the construction of our projects responsibly. In this video, you can see how it is possible to revitalize brownfields, promote biodiversity, incorporate sustainable elements, and recycle during the construction of new apartments, making living in our projects pleasant not only for residents but also for people in the vicinity of our projects.

PrefabricationPrefabrication

We installed the first ever prefabricated bathroom in a showroom apartment in the PORI stage of the SUOMI Hloubětín complex. We will also be installing them in apartments a little further away, in the DEMI and RANUA stages of the LAPPI Hloubětín project. Trucks bring the finished prefabricated bathrooms straight to the construction site and here the cranes insert them in the building structure. Before that, they are manufactured under strict supervision in a specialised factory, thanks to which everything is prepared in a more pleasant and safer environment.

We installed the first prefabricated elements such as walls, stairwells, ceiling filigrees or elevator shafts at the beginning of 2023 in the HAPPI Milanská project.

The prefabricated walls, as well as the bathrooms, are brought ready-made by trucks straight to the construction site, where cranes insert them into the structure of the house. The main advantages of modular construction include saving time, manpower, reducing overall costs, CO2 emissions, etc.

We installed prefabricated bathrooms in the HAPPI Milanská project. They are already ready and brought by trucks straight to the construction site, and here the cranes insert them into the structure of the house.

Explanation of terms and abbreviationsExplanation of terms and abbreviations

Blue-green or soft infrastructure
A set of proposed measures designed to retain rainwater in a site, reduce the negative effects of climate change and thus ensure a safe and healthy environment for its inhabitants. Examples of blue-green infrastructure in our projects are green roofs or green walls, grassy belts for outdoor parking vehicles, dry detention basins, retention tanks, accumulation tanks, sills, grassy strips and solitary trees.

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method)
The standard of best practices in building design with emphasis on the sustainability of construction. It is the oldest and currently also the most widespread certification in the field of energy-saving and sustainable buildings. The BREEAM evaluation deals with the specification of the building, its design, construction and use.

Brownfield
Real estate, land or buildings located in a presently or formerly built-up area, which is not effectively used, is often neglected or even contaminated and cannot be used effectively without revitalisation. Brownfields usually arise as a remnant of industrial, agricultural, residential and other activities. YIT prefers construction on brownfields due to landscape conservation.

Carbon footprint
The sum of all greenhouse gases emitted, expressed in CO₂ equivalents. The carbon footprint can be divided into direct and indirect.

DEC (Display Energy Certificate)
A certificate that indicates how much energy the building consumes annually (for heating, cooling, ventilation, air humidity treatment, hot water preparation or lighting). According to the energy intensity, the buildings are divided into categories from A (best) to G (worst).

EPD (Environmental Product Declaration)
A tool for the transparent declaration of a product's characteristics to the customer. It is used to present the actual environmental impacts of a given product as it includes a set of measurable information on this impact during the product life cycle (e.g., energy and water consumption, waste production, climate change impact, eutrophication, ozone depletion, etc.). It thus provides the customer with comparable information according to which it can prefer a green product.

ESG (Environment, Social and Corporate Governance)
The term Environment covers a criterion that identifies the environmental impacts of a company, reducing the company’s carbon footprint, waste management, etc. Under the term Social we can find social criteria, which includes the ethical rules of the company, respect for employees, as well as the promotion of health and safety. The letter “G” (Governance) indicates the criteria for responsible company management and the fight against corruption.

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
A forest stewardship certification system and FSC processing chain, which was established in 1993. The basic idea of FSC is to support environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economic forest management.

Green energy
Energy produced exclusively by renewable sources (sun, water, wind, biomass, etc.).

Green roofs extensive and intensive
Roofs covered with soil and vegetation. Extensive green roofs do not require too much maintenance, they fulfil an ornamental or insulation purpose. Intensive green roofs are only suitable for roofs that can withstand higher loads, for example on terraces and rest zones. The substrate layer is higher here, thanks to this the entire system is able to hold rainwater very effectively.

PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification)
The world's most widely used system of certification of forests, forestry and the wood processing industry. Their common objective is to promote responsible forestry and sustainable forest management.

Recycled concrete
A type of concrete in which natural aggregate is wholly replaced by aggregate recycled from construction demolition waste. The suitable use of this concrete is in the foundation structures, vertical load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls.

SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative)
The Science Based Targets initiative is the result of cooperation between the CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature. Since 2015, more than 1000 companies have joined the initiative to set a science-based climate target. YIT committed to the initiative at the end of 2021 as the first Finnish company.

Frequently asked questionsFrequently asked questions

What is sustainability?

Sustainability is based on a simple principle. Everything we need for our survival and well-being depends directly or indirectly on our natural environment. Thus, in order to sustain our lives on Earth, we must use our resources in a way that allows us to prosper without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. This means acting in a way that promotes economic vitality, environmental protection and social equality.

What are examples of sustainability?

There are countless different ways to be sustainable. One example is green energy – a natural and infinite resource that does not harm others, but helps maintain the functioning of society.

Another good example is the creation, maintenance and care of green areas. This is because green areas and plants improve air quality, protect water quality and reduce soil erosion to name but a few benefits.

How to learn about sustainability?

Young children should already learn about sustainability, so that healthy practices can be integrated into their daily lives without thinking about it at all. For example, teaching them about composting, recycling, caring for animals and plants, and buying second-hand when they are young. There are so many great sustainability resources, videos and courses from which we can all draw inspiration to live more sustainably.

How can I live more sustainably?

There are plenty of things you can do to be more sustainable. It will depend on things like where you live and how much time you have, but there are still many options for everyone. Plus, you don't have to be perfect to be sustainable. It is better to make a few changes and stick to them than not trying at all, because you are not able to do everything sustainably.

How can I be more sustainable at home?

To get started, you can make sure you switch off all electrical appliances or lights when you are not using them, limit the water intake (shower briefly) and recycle.

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Healthy and sustainable housing

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Sustainability in our projectsSustainability in our projects

We create a better environment for lifeWe create a better environment for life

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