La eficiencia energética de edificios se ha convertido en una necesidad en una sociedad en la que el 40% del consumo energético se deriva del uso de los edificios.
La inercia térmica de los edificios es un factor clave que, con el diseño adecuado, permite reducir el consumo, mejorar el confort térmico de los usuarios e integrar el edificio en el entorno.
Austria a world leader in the field of building and energy-efficient technology. That is why I am very proud that the «Building of Tomorrow» research and technology program as well as its successor, «City of Tomorrow» from my portfolio are among the most successful areas of funding in all of Europe – they have made a big contribution to Austria becoming one of the leading nations in this field.
To overcome the growing unbalance between energy demand and renewable energy generation, an increased flexibility is required from the demand side (i.e. the consumer). Orchestrated in a new energy infra- and market structure, e.g. so-called smart grids, buildings can play a significant role in demand side flexibility.
In warm climates, the thermal mass in concrete and masonry helps provide a comfortable living environment and reduce overheating problems, whilst in cooler climates it can be used to absorb solar gains and reduce the need for heating energy.
As the basic design requirements for both seasons are not incompatible, housing in more temperate climates can be designed to take advantage of thermal mass on a year–round basis.
RESUMEN: To overcome the growing unbalance between energy demand and renewable energy generation, an increased flexibility is required from the demand side (i.e. the consumer). Orchestrated in a new energy infra- and market structure, e.g. so-called smart grids, buildings can play a significant role in demand side flexibility.
Sustainability lies at the heart of construction and design. A sustainable approach of construction brings lasting environmental, social and economic benefits to a construction project. From that perspective, concrete achieves high valuable properties as a construction material limiting the impacts of a building or infrastructure on its surroundings.
The use and sustainability of cement in housing construction is a concern due to the considerable amount of carbon dioxide generated in the manufacturing process, with most recent reporting indicating that clinker burning accounts for approximately 4% of all global CO2 emissions.”
In response to the problem, the use of more ecologically sound alternatives such as wood is increasing, however the determining factors and efficacy of such materials on environmental impact is still an open debate. Further generalized environmental impact assessment (E.I.A.) of these building materials is necessary.
