There are two kinds of energy-saving practices. One focuses on lowering electricity demand, while the other begins with a lower consumption requirement. Neither is superior to the other, but both produce results. However, there is a growing awareness of, and necessity for, reducing the carbon footprint of buildings. As a result, the building industry is increasingly inventing new ways to stay ahead of the curve, from materials to aesthetics.
One of the hard to decarbonise industries is the cement industry. However, cement manufacturers are working hard to tip the scales in their favour. First, take a look at the most profitable cement end-user – buildings. Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is increasingly becoming popular. BIPV can replace traditional building materials with materials that include solar modules. BIPV can, for example, be installed during construction or on existing roofs, windows, or cladding. According to ResearchAndMarkets, the total BIPV established capacity in 2019 and 2020 was 1.15GW and 2.3GW, respectively. I’d like to see more development in this area, especially since BIPV can contribute to cities’ microgrid and distributed energy efforts.
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2022 briefing paper on Accelerating Building Decarbonisation, buildings account for up to 38% of global carbon emissions. Although the paper does not specify regional contributions, this percentage will rise in all regions if left unchecked as demand for housing and office space remains high. Hence the need for innovative ways to reduce the carbon footprint in the building industry.