External solar shading to prevent buildings from overheating
In the age of accelerated global warming, solar shading is becoming the primary solution in the fight against overheating in buildingsNew study results prove this: It is high time to make automated solar shading mandatory in the EPBD (European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive = EU directive on the energy performance of buildings).
Intelligent solar shading has the potential to reduce cooling energy in buildings by around 60% by 2050 - equivalent to savings of 100 million tons ofCO2 and 285 billion euros. These are the results of a scientific study by "GUIDEHOUSE", the first institute to compare the positive effects of using solar shading with those of air conditioning systems in buildings. According to the European umbrella organization for the sun shading industry "ES-SO", the study proves that buildings with automated sun shading can be designed to be both climate-resistant and energy-efficient. Reason enough for ES-SO to push for the GUIDEHOUSE study to be incorporated into the EPBD.
Fighting the overheating of buildings
According to the umbrella organization ES-SO, automated solar shading is the best way to combat climate change and part of a structural solution. With the findings of the GUIDEHOUSE study, ES-SO is urging EU legislators to give priority to solar shading in order to protect buildings from overheating - even before active cooling through the installation of air conditioning systems.
Anders Hall, President of ES-SO: "Buildings are currently the biggest energy consumers in Europe, accounting for 40% of all energy consumption. They also cause 36% of all greenhouse gas emissions. The impressive results of the GUIDEHOUSE study show: The potential for energy savings by reducing the cooling load of air conditioning systems is 60% by 2050, so there is no time to lose in using solar shading as the primary solution in the fight against overheating in buildings. We all long for a future where buildings are more climate resilient and less energy dependent."
The study: solar shading vs. air conditioning
The consequences of climate change are higher temperatures and longer-lasting heatwaves. The forecast is that the number of buildings with air conditioning systems will increase by 60%. In its study, "GUIDEHOUSE", a global consultancy for the public and private sectors, compares the effects of using solar shading with those of installing air conditioning systems in buildings.
The simulation of various scenarios clearly shows that if intelligent solar shading is used as the first measure before the usual active cooling ("preferred scenario"), the increasing number of buildings with air conditioning systems can be halted by 2050.
The positive effects of solar shading
The results of the GUIDEHOUSE study show that automated solar shading has a positive impact in several respects - not only on our planet Earth, but also on society and people.
Planet Earth:CO2 reduction strategy
A total of around 100 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions (*) could be avoided by 2050. This is shown in the "preferred scenario" of the GUIDEHOUSE study.CO2 emissions of 100 million tons represent the annualCO2 emissions of 22 million cars.
(*) TheCO2 values are in line with the EPBD estimates and are based on the European Commission's "2030 climate target".Society: "Energy saving first"strategy
In the "preferred scenario", solar shading can save 60% of the energy required for space cooling in existing buildings. According to the GUIDEHOUSE study, this saving (approx. 870 terawatt hours of electricity) is roughly equivalent to the energy consumption of Spain and its 47 million inhabitants.People: Cost-efficiency strategy
The study shows that investments in solar shading are far more cost-efficient than active cooling of indoor spaces using air conditioning. Solar shading could save up to 285 billion euros by 2050. This is equivalent to the combined gross domestic product of Finland and Luxembourg.
Shady Attia, Professor of Sustainable Architecture and Building Technology at the University of Liège (Belgium), states that solar shading can make an enormous contribution to the European Green Deal: "Today, less than 50% of all buildings in Europe are equipped with solar shading - and the majority of these are not automated. The results of the GUIDEHOUSE study confirm my conviction that solar shading is a much better solution for our planet than installing air conditioning. In order to make buildings more climate-resistant and at the same time more energy-efficient, we therefore urgently need to include automated solar shading in the planning from the outset."
This press release was published in German by ROMA on behalf of ES-SO, the European Solar Shading Organization. An online version of the press release with all images can be found here: http: //prez.ly/wDVb
Click here to download the GUIDEHOUSE study in English or its executive summary in German.
About ES-SO:
ES-SO is a non-profit organization based in Brussels (Belgium). The aim of ES-SO is to demonstrate the positive effects of solar shading on the climate management of buildings and thus make an important contribution to the EU's ambitious climate targets. ES-SO is the umbrella organization of the sun shading industry associations in the EU. The industry employs more than 450,000 people in the 27 member states and generates an annual turnover of EUR 22 billion. Based in Brussels, the ES-SO is ideally placed to give the industry a voice. It makes it clear that sun shading can make a valuable contribution to the EU's energy-saving targets. ES-SO is involved in various EU projects and acts both in an advisory and collaborative capacity.
www.es-so.com
