Aroundtown Group drives decarbonisation of its residential portfolio

Heat pump programme covers 533 residential units across Germany and is set to cut CO₂ emissions by around 350 tonnes a year

GCP, part of the Aroundtown Group, is fitting heat pumps in over 50 residential buildings across Germany this year, with a total of 533 residential units benefiting from the switch. The programme is being delivered by IP Innovative Power, an energy solutions provider specialising in real estate decarbonisation.

Most of the buildings are in North Rhine-Westphalia, in cities including Duisburg, Werdohl, Gladbeck, Hamm, Essen and Gelsenkirchen, with further sites in Berlin, Bremerhaven, Chemnitz and Halle. The programme targets buildings rated F, G and H on their energy performance certificates, where a new heating system can deliver the greatest gains.

The new air-to-water heat pumps will take over most of the heating demand previously met by the existing boilers alone. This significantly reduces fossil fuel consumption, avoiding around 350 tonnes of CO₂ and saving around 2.5 million kWh of final energy each year. Most of the units also run on propane, a natural refrigerant with near-zero global warming potential, supporting the EU's phase-down of fluorinated greenhouse gases.

Preparations began in early 2026. So far, 37 heat pumps have been installed and are already up and running. 50 systems are due to be in place by mid-November, ahead of the heating season. The programme is set to continue beyond 2026, with around 140 further GCP properties already in the early planning stages.

“Climate action in existing buildings is most effective when you focus consistently on where you can make the biggest difference. That is exactly what our heat pump programme does. We are bringing buildings with poor energy efficiency up to a new standard, saving significant amounts of CO₂ every year and keeping heating costs stable for our tenants,” says Limor Bermann, Chief Sustainability Officer at Aroundtown.

About Aroundtown

Aroundtown is one of Europe’s largest real estate companies, listed on the MDAX and specializing in high-quality, income-generating properties with value-add potential in central locations, primarily in Germany, the Netherlands and London. The portfolio mainly comprises office, residential and hotel properties. A professional organization, flexibility, innovative strength and comprehensive tenant services make Aroundtown a reliable partner for growth and success. Aroundtown is one of the leading sustainability players in the European market and is strongly represented in renowned ESG indices, including the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Index. Aroundtown has received multiple EPRA BPR Gold Awards and EPRA sBPR Gold Awards for its transparent financial and sustainability reporting. With its scale-up program AtechX and its workspace platform ATworld, Aroundtown actively drives innovation and new business models in the real estate industry. In addition, Aroundtown works together with ZIA to help shape a future-ready real estate sector.

www.aroundtown.de

About GCP

GCP lets and manages residential properties across Germany and in London and is a subsidiary of Aroundtown, one of Europe's largest real estate companies. In addition to its two main branches in Berlin and Düsseldorf, GCP has offices at further locations, keeping it close to its tenants. The company continuously invests in its buildings and their surroundings and offers comprehensive tenant services.