Lorenz Consult: New Planning Services in the Spirit of Sustainability

The transition to a sustainable construction industry is more urgent than ever. Lorenz Consult takes on this responsibility with a clear goal: sustainability should be measurable, economically justifiable, and future-proof in all planning phases. Therefore, Lorenz Consult has developed new planning services in the sense of sustainability.

"For us, sustainability is not a trend, but a strategic orientation," emphasizes Iva Prus-Kern, Sustainability Officer at Lorenz Consult. With new, holistic planning services, Lorenz Consult aims not only to meet legal requirements but also to actively create forward-looking solutions. The company goes far beyond traditional approaches such as life cycle cost calculation (LCC) and energy management.

The holistic approach of Lorenz Consult

Lorenz Consult combines ecological, economic, and social aspects into an integrated understanding of sustainability within its holistic approach. In addition to LCC and energy management, life cycle assessments (LCA) are systematically integrated into planning — linked with digital methods such as Building Information Modeling (BIM). These are complemented by sustainable MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) concepts, conscious material choices, and the application of state-of-the-art simulations and monitoring systems. "Our goal is to make sustainability measurable and economically justifiable in all phases," says Prus-Kern.

Committed to sustainability

This positions Lorenz Consult well for the future: The new EU Building Directive will require all new public buildings to meet zero-emission standards from 2028 — by 2030, this will apply to all new constructions. Simultaneously, sustainability reporting will become mandatory for many companies under the CSRD directive. "We do not just act reactively — we act proactively and out of conviction," emphasizes Prus-Kern. She adds, "Our goal is to support clients with transparent, economically viable, and future-proof planning processes."

New services around life cycle costs

The traditional tools of cost planning — from cost estimation to detailed cost calculation — are systematically expanded at Lorenz Consult to include life cycle costs. In addition to investment costs, operational and maintenance costs are considered throughout the entire lifecycle. Using BIM, different variants can be compared early on, making long-term impacts visible. This allows early project phases to identify which systems or construction methods — not only during construction but also in operation — represent the best solution. This approach offers significant advantages, especially in hospital or industrial construction, where technology and operation account for a large portion of total costs.

New services around energy management

In the area of energy management, which is an integral part of MEP planning, attention is already paid during needs analysis to ensure systems are optimally aligned with user requirements. Simulations and variant calculations demonstrate different solution pathways and evaluate them both energetically and economically. Lorenz Consult accompanies projects through to commissioning, and with the help of modern monitoring systems, ensures that the planned savings are actually realized.

Digital tools create transparency and security

BIM is already standard at Lorenz Consult and enables not only precise planning but also the integration of LCA and LCC data. This is complemented by simulations, VR models, 3D scans, and modern monitoring systems. Variants can be transparently compared, energy flows optimized, and execution quality documented.

"This benefits clients with greater transparency, better execution quality, and lower operational and energy costs. At the same time, digital methods such as BIM and VR reduce planning errors, make costs and schedules transparent, and provide clear decision-making bases early in the process. This creates not only short-term advantages but also long-term value appreciation of the properties," says Prus-Kern.

Positive practical experiences

The new planning approaches are already successfully in use. Projects such as 3M, Lactosan, or KAGes have demonstrated significant added value — both in technical planning and in terms of energy efficiency, economic viability, and sustainability. "Especially in laboratory, hospital, or industrial plant construction, our approach has proven itself multiple times. We have clearly shown that sustainable solutions are not only ecological but often also economically the better choice," says Prus-Kern.

A key learning: Acceptance of digital methods increases significantly once their added value becomes visible — for example, through transparent cost models or precise as-built models.

Future outlook: New technologies, training, partnerships

In the future, Lorenz Consult plans to further develop the integration of LCA and LCC with BIM and to focus more on future technologies such as energy storage, hydrogen, or fuel cells. At the same time, the company invests in internal expertise through targeted training and workshops.

Collaboration with external partners also plays a central role. Lorenz Consult maintains regular exchanges with research institutions, universities, as well as the ÖGNI (Austrian Sustainable Building Council) and the Architects and Engineers Chamber. This ensures that solutions not only reflect the current state of technology but also meet upcoming requirements.

Sustainability as a measurable added value for clients

"Sustainability is no longer a 'nice to have,' but a necessity. We want to support our clients in the best possible way on this path — through transparent, economically viable, and future-proof planning processes. Our goal is to offer solutions today that meet the requirements of tomorrow. With our new planning services, we create real, measurable added value," concludes Prus-Kern.