Hilti has been awarded the top ratings from the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) for its plants in Hungary and India.
The company’s plant in Kecskemét, Hungary, achieved the highest sustainability rating, Platinum, making it the first industrial building to be granted the DGNB certification in Hungary. During the design and planning stages, Hilti incorporated sustainability features while it also focused on optimising working conditions for about 400 team members. This involved integrating various solutions to cut greenhouse gas emissions, such as employee shuttles, company bicycles and enhanced public transit access.
Heat pumps and geothermal probes were installed to use waste heat for heating or cooling, with automated night ventilation cooling the building in summer. Additionally, the plant’s photovoltaic system generates 1300MWh of power annually, covering building operations and directing excess energy to production facilities.
Meanwhile, in Vadodara, India, Hilti’s plant and multipurpose building both received the Gold Rating from DGNB, becoming the first building in India to achieve the rating.
The production plant features a highly flexible design to optimise space utilisation and includes a soundproof testing lab and a pilot plant. In addition, the energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system, featuring chilled beams and radiant floor cooling, ensures optimal working conditions.
The campus also boasts a rainwater harvesting and treatment system, a photovoltaic system that can generate 1500MWh of power, charging stations for electric vehicles, bicycle parking and a Miyawaki forest that promotes biodiversity and covers 25% of the plant’s total surface area.
“With the successful completion of DGNB certification in India and Hungary, Hilti has demonstrated that they set high standards for holistic sustainable construction in building its facilities worldwide,” said Johannes Kreißig, managing director of the DGNB.
