Novel super-insulating materials can dramatically reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in buildings, but suffer from the twin drawbacks of crumbling and being expensive to produce. An EU initiative investigated ways to overcome these challenges.
Studies show that energy consumption in buildings is responsible for around 40 % of total European CO2 emissions. The EC's Europe 2020 Strategy related to climate and energy (known as the 20-20-20 targets) seeks to realise 20 % of energy consumption produced from renewable resources, to achieve a 20 % improvement in energy efficiency, and a 20 % decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing the energy efficiency of European buildings can help to achieve these goals.
Further details: New superinsulating materials save money, reduce energy use in buildings