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Building Intelligently – Saving Energy
In the industrialized countries of the northern hemisphere, the heating of buildings accounts for 40 percent of energy consumption. In addition, almost 20 percent of man-made greenhouse gas emissions are caused by energy consumption in buildings.
These figures may be alarming. However, they do not reflect the full scope of the problem. Increasing amounts of energy are also required to cool buildings located in warm climate zones. Experts agree that this is becoming as great a challenge as heating. As a result, architects and developers are looking for solutions to reduce the energy consumption of buildings in all the world’s climatic regions.
Insulating materials play a major role in this reduction. The lower their thermal conductivity is, the more effectively the materials prevent heat loss and heat gain.
All kinds of materials have been used to date – polystyrene, mineral wool, glass wool and rock wool to name but a few. However, one material far outperforms them all – polyurethane. Studies have shown that polyurethane has a lower thermal conductivity than conventional insulating materials. This is achieved thanks to its high proportion of fine, closed cells. The cell gas they contain conducts hot and and cold air far less effectively than the surrounding air.
For this reason, the developer of the five-star Madinat Jumeriah Hotel in Dubai has used around 51,000 square meters of polyurethane insulation from Bayer MaterialScience to provide insulation between the air-conditioned first floor and the basement below, which has no air conditioning.
The Bayer MaterialScience polycarbonate Makrolonalso offers potential for energy saving. An example of this is atrium roofing and façade cladding. Air-filled chambers have a heat insulating effect and special additives excel in reflecting thermal radiation. Energy consumption can now be reduced by up to a quarter compared with conventional solid sheets of plastic.
Impressive as this is, smart building can take things even further. The EcoCommercial Building that Bayer is constructing in India is a zero-emission building that covers its own energy requirements. Bayer is working with its partners to incorporate several eco-friendly technologies into this building – from photovoltaic systems with modules made from polycarbonate to optimal use of daylight as a light source and the energy storage capacity of the actual building fabric. Low-solvent and solvent-free paints, coatings and adhesives based on raw materials from Bayer MaterialScience also play a role.
Intelligent building is not a vision for the future. Bayer’s innovation demonstrates that it is possible today.
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