Feasibility study and ROI model for nature-based solutions.

- Client: one of the leading real estate (CRE) owner and operators in the CEE region- Year: 2025- Location: Poland

The challenge.

A premier commercial real estate (CRE) owner and operator had committed to an ambitious biodiversity strategy. The leadership team needed to move from a high-level corporate goal to a practical, asset-level implementation plan.
The key challenge was answering critical investment questions for a portfolio of 56 commercial properties across multiple countries:
● What is technically feasible at each unique asset?● What CAPEX and ongoing OPEX will be required for implementation?● How can we achieve our key performance indicators (KPIs), such as a 19% average green area target?● Most importantly: What is the financial return?
The client needed to see a clear, bankable case for this "green" investment, not just an expense.

Deep Eco's approach.

Deep Eco was engaged to bridge the gap between ecological strategy and financial reality. We conducted a comprehensive, two-part analysis covering technical feasibility and economic benefits.

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Part 1: Technical and cost feasibility analysis.

Our team analyzed every asset, modeling the potential for various Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) against the 19% average green area target.
● Portfolio-Wide Audit.We quantified the existing land cover for all 56 sites, including hard surfaces, roof areas, and current green areas.● NBS Intervention Modeling.We assessed the technical feasibility and potential scale for:- Green Roof and Green Wall installations- Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDs)- Conversion of hardscape areas to green areas- Native plant enrichment- Biodiversity enhancements (e.g., insect hotels, birdhouses)● CAPEX & OPEX Budgeting.We developed a detailed preliminary cost analysis for each property, breaking down the required investment into "Assessment, Design & Planning" and "Site Operations" and forecasting ongoing maintenance costs.

Part 2: Economic benefit and ROI modeling.

This is where Deep Eco's analysis delivered critical decision-making power. We translated the technical CAPEX budgets into a sophisticated financial model to quantify the return.
● Tangible OPEX Savings.We calculated the annual energy savings (in EUR) for each asset, derived from the cooling effects of new green roofs and walls, based on country-specific commercial electricity tariffs.● Asset Value Uplift.We modeled the potential increase in property value resulting from the significant capital improvement, focusing on assets where the investment-to-value ratio was most impactful.● Investment-Grade Metrics.We aggregated all costs and benefits to provide the Client leadership with the clear financial metrics they needed.

The Outcome.

Deep Eco delivered a comprehensive, asset-by-asset playbook that transformed the biodiversity strategy from a concept into a series of bankable projects.
The final deliverable provided a clear, data-driven answer to every "what if" question, empowering the client to prioritize spending and confidently deploy capital. For each of the 56 properties, the Client now has:
● A precise budgeted CAPEX for NBS implementation.● A clear forecast of annual energy savings (OPEX reduction).● A tangible projection of property value increase.● The key financial metrics to justify the investment:
   - Efficiency Ratio (Total Benefit / CAPEX)   - Return on Investment (ROI) %   - Yield % (from energy savings)   - Payback Period (in years)
This analysis proved that biodiversity is not a cost center, but a verifiable value driver that enhances asset performance, reduces operational risk, and delivers a clear and profitable return on investment.

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