Sustainability and construction trends

According to a report by the International Energy Agency, construction is responsible for nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, primarily carbon dioxide. Sustainability in the context of construction is about minimising this negative impact on the environment and creating buildings that will not burden the planet with additional emissions during construction, operation or demolition. This is a trend that is growing stronger every year.

The sustainability of a building is determined primarily by the degree of reduction in water and energy consumption during its construction and use, and the environmental impact of the building materials used, mainly through the amount of greenhouse gases emitted. At the same time, the comfort and health of users continue to be a priority. Especially since the average citizen spends 80% of their life inside a building!

The debate on regulation to reduce CO₂ emissions in buildings is still ongoing. It has not been fully determined whether the most important emissions are those from the process of creating building materials or from their use. However, there is no doubt that the design of energy-efficient sustainable buildings is becoming increasingly affordable. This is most likely due to the growing popularity of eco-building. This in turn is due, on the one hand, to the public’s growing awareness of climate change and, on the other, to the interest in reducing the fixed monthly charges for operating a building.

What is the foundation of sustainable construction?

Sustainable construction focuses on the simplest, but also the most necessary things:low-carbon production that does not generate waste and pollution, water and energy savings, and recycling and reuse of materials.

However, companies in the construction industry that want to play their part in promoting sustainability must look not only at the production, but also at the transport, assembly and future use of the buildings created with their help (the possibility of reusing their components). By taking care of all these elements, it is possible to limit the impact of construction on the environment and, at the same time, by using modern technologies, create buildings which are friendly to work and live in. For one does not exclude the other.

These are the principles that we follow at Kingspan. We are implementing them as part of the 10-year Planet Passionateprogramme . In 2021 alone, we saved 193 million tonnes of CO₂ by providing customers with high-quality products (such as wall and roof sandwich panels)! At the same time as growing the business rapidly, we have reduced our emissions by 4.3% and the amount of waste generated by 13%. And as we intend to continue and intensify the sustainability project, what we have achieved so far is only the beginning.

What are the features of Kingspan products that contribute to the idea of sustainable construction?

* Features selected based on the sandwich panel product.

• High insulation values – with the help of our products, customers reduce heat loss in their buildings. Kingspan sandwich panels have insulation in them, so no additional insulation with foil or mineral wool is required. Reducing the number of materials used, as well as saving heat, means fewer carbon emissions and another step towards sustainable construction.
• Long service life – the products we offer are characterised by a strong construction, durable mechanical frames and high thermal and fire resistance of the insulation cores. As a result, Kingspan composite panels last for decades (we guarantee it!) and not having to buy a new product for such a long time saves both environmentally relevant emissions and money.
• Quick and easy to install – sustainable construction also includes the use of products that are easy to assemble and dismantle. One that does not require a large amount of energy, (both human and machine), to be incorporated into the building. As a result, they do not generate additional emissions.
• Environmentally friendly production – we do not use harmful gases in our constructions and focus on optimising emissions, pollution, used water and energy in the production process, increasingly including energy from renewable sources. This allows us to confidently say that our products are part of the sustainable construction trend.

* In addition, taking Kingspan cold rooms as an example, it is also means:

• Low energy consumption – the cold rooms made of galvanised steel on both sides and insulated with polyurethane foam with a density of 42 kg/m3 consume relatively little energy for the cooling effect they guarantee.

The coexistence of people and planet without harming either side – this is the essence of sustainable development. This includes the construction industry, which is aiming for zero-emission buildings, both private and industrial. This is a trend that is constantly and rapidly growing. It is worth keeping an eye on it and, when planning construction, considering incorporating it into your design.