Sustainable Buildings at Barcelona

Improving energy efficiency in buildings could reduce energy demand by at least 24% in housing and 27% in non-residential buildings with consequent reductions global emissions of some 23% compared to current values. These data set the context for the World Sustainable Building Conference, World SB14, taking place in Barcelona this week (28-30 October). And sustainable chemistry has a big role to play in achieving these objectives.

World SB14 will gather together nearly 2,000 experts in sustainable building technologies from all over the world to discuss the impact of the building sector on climate change and its consequences for the global population. And SusChem co-ordinator Jacques Kormonicki will be amongst them.

A set of chemistry-based proposals for increasing energy efficiency in buildings developed by SusChem was voted as one of the top three key innovations needed to transform European cities at the Smart Cities Stakeholder Platform Annual Conference in Budapest in June 2013.

The SusChem proposals highlight five major chemistry-enabled solutions that have been tested and proven to significantly reduce energy consumption in buildings as well as contribute towards achieving the EU 20-20-20 targets.

Chemical winners
Key Chemistry-enabled Solutions are:

• High Reflectance Indoor Coatings
• High Reflectance and Durable Outdoor Coatings
• High Performance Insulation Foams 
• High Performance Vacuum Insulation Panels
• Phase Change Materials (PCM) 

Jacques Komornicki says: "Using these tested energy efficiency solutions can reduce energy use in buildings by up to 70%."

“These innovations are particularly suited to the renovation market and this market in turn has the potential to create growth and jobs in Smart Cities that adopt them whilst also contributing significantly to their emissions reduction goals - a double win!” he continues.

You can learn more about these Key Innovations for Smart Cities in the SusChem report: "Innovative chemistry for Energy efficiency of buildings in smart cities." For more information on SusChem materials innovation for energy efficiency in buildings, please contact Jacques Kormornicki at Cefic directly.

About World SB14 Barcelona
World SB14 Barcelona is a Conference organised by GBCe and promoted by CIB (Conseil International de Batîment), iiSBE (International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment), UNEP-SBCI (Sustainable Buildings and Climate Initiative) and FIDIC (International Federation of Consulting Engineers), and counts on the collaboration of WGBC (World Green Building Council). The Sustainable Building Conference Series, of which World SB14 Barcelona is part, is the largest global meeting aimed at debating different aspects of sustainable building.

GBCe (GBC España)  is a non-profit association that unites representatives from the entire construction industry, to work together towards an energy and ecologically conscious approach to the design of the built environment. GBCe counts with the active participation and democratic representation from public institutions, academia, professional and business associations, among others.