As one of the world's leading polymer producers, Covestro is committed to bringing more exciting future houses with innovative polyurethane insulation materials.
Innovation fills the gap
Speaking of the energy efficiency of future houses, I believe most people will have shiny new buildings built with the latest eco-efficient energy-saving and environmental protection technologies. However, the vast majority of buildings in future cities are already standing there.
Data is perhaps the most powerful proof. The latest report from the United Nations states that by 2060, 65% of the world's building stock will be completed, which means that most of the buildings in the future cities have been completed. However, most projects are not based on the concept of sustainable development. At the same time, climate change experts believe that by 2050, we should reach zero emissions.
△ Global floor space is increasing. Data show that in the next 40 years, the global building stock will double, and the new building area will reach 230 billion square meters (= 2.5 trillion square feet).
Calculating, the answer is clear: we need to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes-and quickly.
Of course, it is only after we understand where and how energy is wasted that we can begin to save energy. However, in most families, it is very urgent to transform the insulation system.
More than 40% of urban housing in China is located in the "extreme cold zone". Due to poor insulation systems and inefficient heating equipment, these houses currently use two to four times more energy for heating than similar climates in northern Europe.
The use of polyurethane insulation materials in the renovation of old houses or apartments can reduce heat losses by up to 80% and significantly reduce energy consumption. Polyurethane insulation materials perform better than conventional insulation materials. Compared with traditional thermal insulation materials such as mineral wool or polystyrene, polyurethane has much lower thermal conductivity and two-thirds higher thermal insulation efficiency.
In addition, because the traditional thermal insulation method will cause the wall to become thicker, the use of polyurethane walls will be much thinner. This means that in the insulation renovation of existing houses, the minimum space required to use polyurethane is achieved, and the level of energy efficiency achieved will never be outdated.
Innovation turns CO₂ into opportunity
It is true that retrofitting thermal insulation systems has a significant effect on improving the environmental performance of the home. If we want to reduce climate disasters, we must go further.
Currently, the global annual CO₂ emissions are about 37 billion metric tons, and our goal is to increase global temperatures by three degrees by 2100. In order to try to maintain a human-friendly climate, we must completely reduce CO₂ emissions. With little time left, a scientific report issued by the United Nations states that it is imperative to remove large amounts of existing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
There is a name for this class of substances that can play a role in removal: negative emission technology, or NET.
Think of negative emissions as a kind of space-time travel. We have emitted too much CO₂ since the Industrial Revolution, but the purpose of NET is to reverse the damage that has been done.
In order to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere, NET's focus is mainly on capturing and storing this gas. But if greenhouse gases can be recycled—just like plastic bottles and cartons—they can turn into useful products and generate benefits.
Decades of dreams are now finally becoming a reality: Covestro has successfully developed a new technology, Cardyon®, which uses carbon dioxide to produce substances. The carbon dioxide content of up to 20% can replace some of the fossil raw materials and reduce the use of fossil resources. Help turn waste into treasure.
Cardyon® can be used to produce high-quality soft polyurethane foam, mainly used in mattresses and soft furniture, to provide people with a comfortable home experience and improve the quality of life.
Bright prospects for CO₂ utilization
The use of CO₂ to produce energy-saving products such as insulation materials means that Covestro applies carbon dioxide to the entire value chain. In addition to reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, it also helps to form a carbon circuit and reduce carbon emissions throughout the product's life cycle.
Covestro is working with industry and academic partners to further develop and explore potential applications of carbon dioxide.