Read the interview with our long-time friend and partner, Oliver Baumann, who uses Synavision software in sustainability projects worldwide to achieve perfect building performance. Baumann Consulting is one of the world’s leading consulting firms, offering sustainability and engineering consulting services for the entire lifecycle of buildings. With offices in Chicago and Frankfurt, Baumann Consulting operates internationally.
Can you briefly describe your field of activity? What have you specialized in?
I founded Baumann Consulting in 2006 in Washington, D.C. We specialize in sustainability and energy efficiency in construction. We have expanded into Germany, with an office in Frankfurt since 2013. Our unique specialty is that we bring a transatlantic footprint, meaning we have expertise and best practices from both Europe and North America.
How did you end up in the USA?
I am a mechanical engineer by training (TU Munich, 1997), and I worked for ten years in a technical building services office in Munich. During this time, I also participated in international research projects and built an international network. In 2006, I decided to start my own business in sustainability and energy efficiency in the U.S. market.
Do energy savings and energy efficiency play as big a role in the USA as in the EU?
Perhaps as a preface: From my perspective, the German attitude often appears somewhat arrogant and know-it-all in the international context. On the other hand, the American mentality tends to aim at being the first and the best. Culturally, there is often a clash. Regarding the question: In 2006, energy efficiency in North America was objectively still in its infancy. At that time, my impression was that the USA was about 20 years behind Europe. It was therefore very difficult to address the issue of energy efficiency in buildings. Another difference, which also relates to mentality: Energy efficiency in Germany was driven by regulations, but in the U.S., it didn’t work that way. A lot was driven by money and marketing. But the issue of economic viability didn’t work in the U.S. back then, as energy – and still today – was far too cheap.
And today?
There has been a complete transformation. The major themes of sustainability, energy efficiency, and resilience – meaning energy independence – are now viewed quite differently. At the local level, cities, counties, and states now have very strict energy efficiency requirements – in fact, much stricter than in Europe. One of the pioneers is Washington, D.C., where there are massive financial penalties for failing to meet energy efficiency requirements for existing buildings. These “compliance payments” run into the millions. This has created a very strong incentive, through penalties that could be avoided, to focus on energy efficiency. Furthermore, starting in 2026, only zero-energy buildings will be approved.
What services are requested from you?
We are experiencing a flood of requests from building owners in Washington, D.C., who are trying to figure out how to comply with the new requirements and avoid the “compliance payments.” What is being requested are concrete plans on how energy efficiency measures can be implemented successfully. Many are also striving for a “performance verification,” meaning proof that energy savings have actually been achieved. At the moment, all buildings over 5,000 square meters are affected, and smaller buildings will follow in later phases.
Does this apply to all types of buildings?
Currently, it mainly affects office buildings and large apartment buildings. It is important to understand the impact, as we are seeing something of a domino effect. More and more cities and counties are following suit, such as Montgomery County in Maryland and New York City, just to name two examples. This development highlights a major difference: In Europe and Germany, everything is centrally managed and then implemented locally. In the U.S., it works the opposite way. Things develop locally – with the downside being that there are often many different regulations. Unlike Europe, sustainable and resilient buildings are interpreted as a competitive advantage in the U.S. Especially investors are increasingly looking at the local ESG criteria and how they are being met.
What is the major difference between U.S. and German buildings?
There are fundamental differences. In many regions in the U.S., there is much higher humidity, so every building must necessarily be air-conditioned. This is not optional, as in Germany, where good ventilation could often replace air conditioning. In the U.S., ventilation would even be harmful because too much moisture would enter the interior spaces. As a German in the U.S., you often feel like the spaces are overcooled. But turning off the air conditioning is not a solution either. The entire heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in the U.S. works through air systems, whereas in Germany, it is based on water-based systems, which are more energy-efficient but do not contribute to dehumidifying the building.
What role does digitalization in building technology play?
In the U.S., more digital solutions are being tested and implemented faster. Mistakes are consciously accepted. In Germany, however, a lot is talked about: A system must be 100% perfect – at least in theory – before anything is implemented. In many areas, the Americans are thus ahead, for example in “Building Information Modeling” or digital building simulation. Research and development are carried out to a greater extent, with the result that a large portion of relevant programs come from the U.S.
You collaborate with Synavision. Why did you decide to do this, and how do you benefit from the collaboration?
We have been using Synavision for many projects both in the U.S. and Europe for years. Synavision helps us especially in visualizing and analyzing building data. It is also very helpful for performance verification in the U.S. Furthermore, Synavision continuously develops the tool quickly and takes our feedback into account, which allows us to increase the energy efficiency of our clients’ buildings even more easily.
About Baumann Consulting:
Baumann Consulting’s goal is to lead the real estate industry into a climate-neutral future. We develop sustainable solutions for low and zero-energy houses based on economically feasible business plans.
Baumann Consulting offers sustainability and engineering consulting services for the entire lifecycle of office, residential, school, administrative, and industrial buildings. Services include energy audits, feasibility studies, building simulations, the development and review of planning concepts, as well as technical commissioning management and technical monitoring.
Baumann Consulting was founded in Washington, D.C., in 2006. In 2012, an office was opened in Chicago, Illinois, expanding its presence to the Midwest of the U.S. With the opening of the German branch in Frankfurt am Main in 2013, Baumann Consulting became a transatlantic organization. All three locations operate as one company, constantly exchanging resources and information.
