IMCD on Green Building
In our homes, workplaces, and in any other indoor spaces we yearn for a comfortable, nurturing environment.
The goal of the green building framework is to help make the building sector sustainable, taking into consideration every stage of a building development and operation.
How is IMCD contributing towards greener buildings?
Better spaces with a smaller footprint
To achieve comfortable and nurturing indoor spaces in a sustainable way, builders and developers can choose among a range of solutions, from architectural features to ecological materials, that adapt to their markets.
Green building is a holistic approach that helps to bring those solutions together, supporting the sector in making informed adjustments that will positively impact the entire lifecycle of each building.
The aim is to deliver buildings that last longer, require less maintenance, and provide a healthy and comfortable environment for their occupants while consuming the minimum energy possible.
Green building responds to rising construction demand
A growing, more urban population and the need to replace older, less efficient buildings will continue to push demand for new construction. Thus, the building stock is expected to double by 2050.
At the current pace, the building sector already requires a considerable amount of raw materials. According to the United Nations, constructing, maintaining, and demolishing buildings consumes 40% of all energy and resources generated worldwide1.
Responding to this rising demand, green building strives to bring together many different, multidisciplinary solutions that can save resources and increase their circularity, while at the same time, improve the quality of life of those that use the buildings.
Strong foundations for a greener sector
Opting for a green building approach can have a significant environmental impact.
Right from the start, preference for recycled materials diverts waste from landfills and reduces the energy necessary to extract and process raw materials.
Once the structures are in place, the correct choice of design and material solutions will reduce the need for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, further reducing the energy footprint of the building.
These changes also ought to take into account the final goal of any building: to provide a pleasant space for people and communities. Appealing lighting, good ventilation, and thermal comfort are worth considering at every stage of the building’s development.
Hopefully, combining several green building solutions will result in long-lasting structures. But when those structures’ lifecycle finally comes to an end, the a priori choice of recyclable materials could ensure a self-regenerating, circular system.
Climate Action
38% of all CO2 emissions related to energy consumption come from the building sector, making decarbonization a key part of green building2.
Solutions such as Direct Air Capture, which could become part of a building’s ventilation system and actively reduce CO2 concentration in the exhaust air, are an illustration of the contributions to this field.
Health & Wellbeing
In 2000, healthy indoor air quality was declared a human right by the World Health Organization3, highlighting the need for toxic-free building solutions.
Overtime discharges of indoor chemicals can be mitigated by the choice of materials deployed, such as in the case of decorative paints.
Resources & Circularity
Air conditioners and electric fans are responsible for 10% percent of all global electricity consumption, a call for more thermally efficient buildings4.
Opting for thermal insulation solutions could reduce the need for those mechanical, energy-intensive methods.
References
1 United Nations Environment Programme
2 United Nations Environment Programme
3 World Health Organization
4 International Energy Agency