EU taxonomy compliance in the building sector: a focus on the hotel industry

With the introduction of the EU Taxonomy Regulation by the EU Commission in 2020 and the subsequent Delegated Regulation in 2021, there are now for the first time consolidated requirements for the assessment of investments and associated economic activities in the areas of climate protection, climate change adaptation, conservation of water resources, contribution to the circular economy, prevention of pollution and preservation of biodiversity. These regulations have been in force since January 1, 2022 and affect more than 2,000 companies in Austria alone.
The EU taxonomy is a classification system that assesses economic activities in terms of their environmental impact. Companies must prove that their activities meet these objectives in order to be classified as sustainable. This transparency promotes sustainable investments and measures in various sectors, including the hotel industry.

Significance for the hotel industry
In the hotel industry, there is no way around ecological, economic and social sustainability. Water consumption is a particularly important aspect here. According to the Rabmer Group, the average water consumption per person per day in hotels is 290 liters, more than twice as high as in private households. The EU taxonomy sets clear criteria for water efficiency in order to reduce water consumption.

Water efficiency measures
In order to comply with EU taxonomy requirements, hotels must take measures to minimize water consumption. This can include the introduction of modern technologies for water recovery, the optimization of processes and the use of water-saving measures. The regulation sets out specific technical requirements for sanitary facilities that must be met when hotels are newly built or renovated:

- Taps: Maximum flow rate of 6 liters/min.
- Showers: Maximum flow rate of 8 liters/min.
- Toilets: Maximum full flush volume of 6 liters, average 3.5 liters.
- Urinals: Maximum 2 liters/basin/hour, full flush volume maximum 1 liter.

Technology to support taxonomy compliance
The Rabmer Group has developed the Ecowaterjet water and energy saving system to help hotels achieve these goals. This mini turbine, which is simply installed between the shower fitting and shower head, reduces water consumption in the shower to up to 6 liters per minute without compromising shower comfort. At the washbasin, consumption can be reduced to 5 liters per minute. This technology uses the Venturi principle, which is also used in high-pressure cleaners, to mix water and air in order to increase the volume and speed up the water jet.

Further requirements and measures
In addition to the technical requirements, the impact on water quality in the building's catchment area must also be assessed for new buildings. This concerns both the withdrawal and return of water and any relevant contamination of the aquatic system. An important aspect is rainwater management, where priority is given to infiltration on site. Green roofs and keeping undeveloped areas open help to maintain the infiltration volume and improve the microclimate.
The EU taxonomy thus promotes sustainable and resource-efficient development in the building sector, particularly in the hotel industry. Hotels that meet these requirements can not only reduce their operating costs, but also make a significant contribution to environmental protection.
For more information on the EU Taxonomy Regulation, please visit EUR-Lex.