MARKET I OPPORTUNITIES


Sustainable future provides markets


Sustainability in buildings has been a long term goal for many individuals but it is only the last few years that the construction industry has made moves towards developing a truly sustainable value chain for this energy hungry industry. European wide decisions will see such vision become policy and the solar industry will play a major part in the buildings of the future. An upcoming conference in Germany will look at the major issues.


T


he construction industry is facing a major challenge. After a significant shift in focus over the past decades towards increased energy efficiency it now faces the challenge making the leap towards sustainability.


The consequences of continuing climate change are becoming ever more frequent and obvious. Melting glaciers, droughts of the kind never seen before, destructive flooding – the media reports daily on the consequences of mankind’s massive impact


20 www.solar-international.net I Issue I 2012


on the environment. Climate change cannot be stopped but it must be slowed down. For this far-reaching international measures for climate protection are required.


Specifically, building construction can and indeed must make a significant contribution here. According to EU statistics, the 160 million buildings across the EU are still responsible for 40% of Europe’s final-energy consumption levels. These buildings generate 36% of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2). The huge


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