Energy for life
Housing accounts for 40% of the energy expenditure in Europe today and buildings are responsible for 25% of all European CO2 emissions. A properly insulated modern home consumes just 27% of the energy needed to heat a poorly insulated pre-1974 building. Research also shows that insulated buildings save significantly more energy (through reduced heating demand) than is consumed in making the insulation materials, and emit 500 times less CO2.
Saint-Gobain files dozens of patents every year on increasingly efficient insulation products. Over the last ten years, thermal insulation efficiency has increased by 20% and the energy performance of our glazing products has increased six-fold over the last 20 years. Today, our low-emission double glazing is three times as efficient as conventional glazing in terms of heat insulation.
Through constant innovation Saint-Gobain is also developing new and exciting ways of harnessing and generating energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These include photovoltaic panels and solid oxide fuel cell technology which is designed to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels.
