Knut Höller
Brief introduction about yourself
I am a founding member and Managing Director of the German NGO Housing Initiative for Eastern Europe (IWO) e.V. The aim of the not-for-profit association founded in 2001 is to provide German experiences from the transition of the housing sector in the former GDR and know-how from Germany’s housing sector today to Central and Eastern European neighbors.
I am an Economics and MBA graduate with profound knowledge of housing policy in Germany, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. I am a founding member of the first European housing cooperative LiM Living in Metropolises SCE, based in Berlin, and became a member of LiM’s board in 2019.
Which company/institution do you represent and what drives you in the company?
I am the managing director of the Housing Initiative for Eastern Europa (IWO e. V.) and am currently working intensively on the serial refurbishment of multi-family buildings. This approach has great potential to refurbish more buildings much faster through the concentrated use of resources and skilled labor.
What is your relation to the topic of climate protection?
Buildings are responsible for around 40% of CO2 emissions. As long as residential buildings are energy inefficient, there will be no effective climate protection. For various reasons, HOAs have more difficulties carrying out refurbishments, therefore we have to offer them more assistance.
Why is the project important from your point of view?
Housing managers are key players in the refurbishment of condominiums. We need to understand their needs and support them much more so that they can accompany the owners in the energy refurbishment.
What is your role at GREEN Home?
My experience in planning and management of international projects helps to accomplish the objectives of GREEN Home successfully and will also serve in policy work of the project while working on stakeholder management and dissemination.
In one sentence: your motivation for working at GREEN Home
Only through intensive exchange with all stakeholders will we be able to renovate HOA buildings on a large scale.
