CO2 emissions from building operations reached their highest level ever in 2019, moving the sector away from fulfilling its huge potential to curb climate change and contribute significantly to the Paris Agreement goals, according to the recent report released in February 2021 by the UN Environment-led Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC).
However, pandemic recovery plans provide an opportunity to boost comprehensive building retrofits and energy efficiency standards for new construction, and rapidly reduce emissions. The upcoming update of climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), also provides an opportunity to enhance existing measures and include new commitments in the building and construction sector.
All players in the sector need to do their bit to decarbonize the sector by changing processes and adapting to new regulations. New environmental concerns are a good incentive to continue researching and re-evaluating how we manufacture, build and can improve in every way.
Tecnopol has already been working for some time on different aspects. The company manages waste internally by separating recyclable materials, the need for water during manufacturing processes is minimal, and the water that is needed is reused through a closed circuit.
But where our commitment to making construction globally more sustainable is really noticeable is in the characteristics achieved in two of our main products, Tecnofoam and Tecnocoat:
Tecnofoam (thermal insulation): Use of polyurethane foams for thermal insulation without greenhouse gases, using water as an expansive agent, with no negative effects on the environment. This makes them completely stable and inert once applied, with no particle emissions during their useful life. In addition, at the time of removal, it is recyclable material without the need for special actions.
Tecnocoat: Pure polyurea membrane free of solvents, zero VOC. (With zero emissions of hazardous substances into the atmosphere). Green Label certified system in Singapore and in process in other locations.
In addition, waterproofing the roofs of buildings with Tecnopol's construction solutions is one of the best possible measures to make them more eco-efficient.
Only through decisive steps by the sector will we be able to reverse climate change and achieve the objectives to which the UN, the European economic community and many national and international bodies have committed themselves.
Own sources and Construible "A United Nations report points out the urgency of decarbonizing the construction sector".