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A High-Tech Solution for the Living-Wall Problem
Real estate technology news
Franco Faraudo
December 02, 2024
Propmodo Technology
By Franco Faraudo · December 2, 2024
Greetings,
Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, the holiday season is in full swing! While this time of year typically brings a slowdown in the PropTech sector, especially in funding, there are still notable investments and trends worth highlighting.
Bytes
💸 Celebrity PropTech: Ryan Serhant’s Big Funding News
Ryan Serhant, star of Million Dollar Listing, has announced $45 million in funding for his tech-enabled real estate venture, SERHANT. This “brokerage 3.0” concept has attracted support from PropTech heavyweights like Camber Creek. While the tech is interesting, much of the buzz seems to be about Serhant himself, underscoring the role of celebrity in driving innovation.
🌱 Europe’s Decarbonization Push Continues Strong
The once-thriving sustainable PropTech sector in the U.S. might be facing headwinds following Trump’s election win, but Europe remains steadfast in its efforts to decarbonize real estate. German “ESG management” startup Predium has secured €13 million in funding, reflecting Europe’s commitment to making all buildings climate-neutral by 2050.
💡 Activist Investors Take Aim at Honeywell
This year has been busy for activist investors, and now they’re setting their sights on Honeywell. Elliott Management, one of the most active players in this space, has acquired a $5 billion stake in the conglomerate. Their goal? To push Honeywell into splitting its aviation division from its building and warehouse automation businesses, arguing that such a move could unlock greater value for both entities.
🌳 Organic Growth: Google’s Timber Office
Google has revealed the design for its first mass timber office building, set to rise in Sunnyvale, California. The company claims the wooden structure will generate 96% less carbon than a traditional steel and concrete building, marking a major step forward for sustainable architecture.
♻️ Net Positive
Architects and engineers are raising the bar, moving beyond “net zero” to design buildings that are “climate positive.” These structures don’t just minimize their environmental impact—they generate more energy than they consume and sequester more carbon than they produce.
🏙️ This Week’s Feature: Building Envelope
This week, we’re shining a spotlight on building envelope and facade technology, an often overlooked yet essential element of building design and performance. Envelopes are not only about comfort and aesthetics—they’re critical to how buildings function, and they’re evolving in exciting ways.
For instance, a new University of Toronto building showcases the power of precast concrete panels, which streamlined the construction process while delivering a modern, polished look.
A growing trend known as “scar-chitecture” is also making waves, with architects carving outdoor terraces into facades to create functional, open spaces that connect buildings to their surroundings.
Sustainability is playing a larger role in facade innovation, too. New solar panels can now be seamlessly attached to walls, transforming facades into energy generators. Designers are also merging vertical greenery with biofuel production, enabling facades to reduce heat, capture carbon, and produce clean-burning energy.
Don’t miss this week’s featured Propmodo Technology article about a new innovation that combines the benefits of growing plants on the sides of buildings with the creation of clean-burning biofuel.
Let’s go!
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Propmodo Technology is edited by Franco Faraudo with contributions from readers like you and the Propmodo team.
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