For the countries of the European Union, energy efficiency is a bigger challenge than ever, because it enables them simultaneously to reduce fuel poverty, improve the health and well-being of their people and make a significant contribution to cutting CO2 emissions. Which is why EuroACE was set up in 1998 by leading energy efficiency tech companies to work with the institutions of the EU on helping member states to implement a building energy efficiency policy.
How can we transform our buildings and communities to help individuals fulfill themselves? New standards are emerging to guide this process. The objective is to draw on research to transform our approach to living spaces and make them healthier for everyone.
How can personal desires for freedom of travel and mobility be reconciled more successfully with our shared expectations for sustainable development? What alternatives are there today? We reached out to meet with those who are inventing tomorrow’s solutions today.
We believe that if we are to improve life in the world, we must build cities that are more breathable, and therefore healthier, and which provide a better quality of life for everyone. Achieving that requires us to take concerted action to combat pollution - including inside our homes - reduce our carbon emissions, and conserve and expand pockets of the natural world. We wanted to discuss these issues with some of those who are working to deliver such a transformation.
Building a more sustainable world means consuming fewer resources, and companies have a fundamental role to play in this collective effort. That means changing the way we design, manufacture and distribute our products and solutions, whether in terms of production (Industry 4.0, data, etc.), the way we use and recycle materials, or how we protect the environment around our production facilities. This overview looks at some solutions that are beginning to make a difference.
With most of the world living in cities and growing villages, people tend to spend the majority of their time indoors. When not at home, we are working, learning, or even engaging in fun activities in enclosed, built settings. All in all, 90% of our time is occupied inside. It is therefore essential to ensure a comfortable, productive, and healthy indoor environmental quality by following well-regulated parameters and design practices that consider temperature, lighting, noise pollution, proper ventilation, and the quality of the air we breathe. The latter is especially important, since contra
Facades are the interface between the interior and exterior of a building. They are the most striking and visible parts of a building, they protect it from external agents and are one of the main contributors to creating comfortable environments since it is where thermal gains and losses occur. Just like our skin, an extremely versatile organ of our body, it should be natural for it to be the part of the building which bears technology capable of becoming adaptable to the environmental conditions of the place where it is located.
Few things irritate us more than exposure to excessive noise or inability to hear what we need to hear. Whether it's a nearby construction site, highway traffic, air conditioning, or a neighbor learning saxophone, research shows that noise can contribute to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, headaches, hormonal changes, sleep disturbance, reduced physical and mental performance, and the reduction of well-being. On the other hand, in an acoustically "comfortable" environment, in addition to listening to what we want, we focus better and feel calmer.
Architects are increasingly aware of our influence on the well-being and good health of the users of our projects. Natural lighting –and how it should be complemented with artificial lighting– is an essential factor to consider for the visual comfort of interior spaces. But, do we know how to handle it correctly?
