Energy Efficiency
Discover why insulation is the most important contributor to energy efficiency in buildings
Our lives depend on energy and the fast growing consumption of fossil fuels - such as oil, natural gas and coal - is having a dramatic impact on CO2 greenhouse gas emissions.
Although we still have exploitable reserves for natural gas and coal, these reserves are running out. Rising global temperature, environment pollution and climate change issues are regularly in the news.
As a result, the countries who have signed the Kyoto agreement aim to reduce CO2 emissions by 8% between 1990 and 2010. They are currently working on the post-Kyoto agreement with, among others, the objective of limiting the total increase in global atmospheric temperature to 2°C over that of the pre-industrial era, by the end of the 21st century.
What consumes most of the world's energy ?
Surprisingly, industry uses the least energy (28%). Transport uses slightly more (32%). But by far the biggest users of energy are buildings, mainly our homes (40%).
Changing our behavior : it's time to save energy !
Part of the solution is increasing the use of renewable energy (wind, solar, geothermal heat, tidal/hydro, etc.) and reducing demand for fossil fuels, which will contribute substantially towards reducing CO2 emissions. But the largest contribution will come from driving energy efficiency in buildings. We can also contribute to this by changing our behavior habits (switching off the lights, heating control, thermal insulation, etc.).
To support your energy savings, the European Commission has defined an Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). The goal of the Directive is to improve the energy performance of buildings within the Community, taking into account cost-effectiveness. The Directive lays down requirements for:
- the general framework for a methodology of calculating the integrated energy performance of buildings and estimating their environmental impact (article 3);
- the application of minimum requirements to the energy performance of new buildings (article 5) and of large existing buildings that are subject to major renovation (article 6);
- the energy certification of buildings (article 7);
- the regular inspection of boilers and air-conditioning systems in buildings as well as one-off inspection of the entire heating installation (article 8 and 9).
More info on the implementation of this directive by each member state on http://www.buildingsplatform.eu/
What are we doing ?
The European Commision's waste policy promotes recycling (which has a positive impact on energy savings), waste prevention (less methane emissions) and incineration.
Knauf Insulation is taking note of this by treating waste and using recycled materials such as glass. Moreover, CO2 emissions are carefully controlled in all our factories through dynamic reporting.
The most sustainable energy is saved energy.
