Get Sust! Issue 29

Italian job

Pirelli RE, one of Italy’s major construction companies (and an off-shoot of the famous tyre manufacturer) has declared that in future all its buildings - residential and commercial - will meet its new “Ecobuilding” standard.

Significantly for this Mediterranean company, its criteria focuses on energy efficiency, not only for winter heating but for summer cooling. It is also planning to use renewables (solar and geothermal energy) and green roofs to help its efficiency drive.

Why the change? Pirelli RE says it aims “to be ahead of sector legislation by offering quality, highly efficient, environmentally friendly solutions”. However, Pirelli RE has already been active in eco-development, with several award-winning projects completed.

The Ecobuilding programme will also be implemented at Pirelli RE’s headquarters in Milan which aims to be Class A certified, with winter heating energy approximately 30% below the volumes indicated in the new Law 192, effective as from 1 January 2010.

Learn more:

•

* Pirelli RE also operates in Germany and Poland, and plans to expand into other Central and Eastern European countries (particularly Romania and Bulgaria. See http://tinyurl.com/2zusx4.