Insulation saves energy
The most sustainable and economically viable energy is the energy that we do not use. This is documented by several reliable sources:
- In their Climate Map, McKinsey/Vattenfall have documented that insulation can save 1.6 Giga tonnes of CO2 per year, equivalent to the entire CO2 emissions of Russia. Not with a net cost, but with an average economic gain of € 130 per tonne.
- The research company Ecofys has concluded that all European countries could, over time, save 460 million tonnes of CO2 per year if all buildings undergoing modernisation were brought up to contemporary energy efficiency standards. This corresponds to the annual CO2 emissions of e.g. Italy. At an oil price oil price of $ 70 per barrel, energy costs worth €270 billion per year could be saved.
- PEP, the Promotion of European Passive houses (supported by the European Commission under the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme), has proved that an average reduction in CO2 emissions of 50-65 % can be obtained per house if all standard houses were transformed into passive houses.
Source: based on McKinsey/Vattenfall Air-conditioning will increase
In some of the world’s largest economies such as the US, China and India, air conditioning is estimated to triple before 2030, according to the McKinsey/Vattenfall Climate Map. American houses are more than twice the average size of a European house and 77 % are equipped with air conditioning.
The use of air condition will triple before 2030.In order to cut the use of air conditioning in these countries, it is crucial to insulate better – especially in India and China where many new buildings are being erected. The US is already aware of the savings potential from insulation and the US Energy Authority has estimated that it is possible to save 57-68 % of energy use in residential areas e.g. by cutting down on air conditioning.
Better insulation will both keep out the cold and prevent the building from turning into a sweatbox. Insulation stops the heat from entering into the building through the roof or the facade and thereby reduces the need for air conditioning.
