Almost 20 years ago, ECE began to explicitly tackle the topic of sustainability on the personal initiative of Alexander Otto – at a time when little was being said on the matter in the real estate industry. Employees were made aware of the importance of the subject, sustainability coordinators were appointed in all business areas, the position of a sustainability manager was created, and the first manuals for sustainable real estate development were produced. In 2008, ECE published our first sustainability report. Also that same year, a first ECE center – the Ernst August Galerie in Hannover – was awarded a DGNB new building certificate. In 2013, ECE became the first company in the industry to hold a sustainability conference.