Sustainable buildings in use
Holcim is making buildings more sustainable in use to decarbonize our cities. With our broad range of solutions from roofing and insulation to advanced mortars and flooring, we are driving energy efficiency and green retrofitting.
Energy efficiency
We're enabling buildings to be more energy-efficient in use.
70% of CO2 emissions in the construction sector are generated by buildings in use.
Inadequate insulation results in a high amount of unnecessary heating and cooling-related emissions. To overcome this problem, Holcim offers a wide range of products and solutions to enhance buildings’ energy efficiency. Our brand portfolio includes SES, offering bio-based insulation foam, and Cantillana insulation boards. From our innovative roofing solutions to our Airium™ insulation, we are reducing energy usage and moving toward net-zero throughout the construction process.
Our solar-enabling, cool and green roofing systems make buildings more energy-efficient in use, while enabling cooler cities with more integrated nature.
Leading roofing systems provider Elevate offers cool and green roofs to help address the challenges of population growth and urbanization by providing thermal insulation and reducing the urban heat island effect. .
Green retrofitting
Our solutions and products are playing an increasing role in green retrofitting.
Up to 80% of current buildings and infrastructure is expected to still be in use by 2050, meaning an increasing need for repair, renovation and green retrofitting solutions. By renovating buildings with green retrofit systems we can keep them in use for as long as possible in the most energy-efficient way.
We understand the importance of preserving buildings to decarbonize the built environment. Our solutions, from roofing systems, insulation board and facade systems to advanced mortars, can be used to enhance the functionalities of existing buildings and ensure their sustainable use in the long term. Through longer-lasting buildings, we are helping cities become greener.
As well as suiting new builds, many solutions in our range also support green retrofitting to prolong the life of buildings:
- Elevate delivers premium roofing, wall and lining systems including insulating, cooling and green roofs.
- PRB Group produces coatings, insulation, adhesives and flooring systems specially designed for advanced energy efficiency.
- PTB offers a wide range of high-performance products, from adhesives and specialty mortars to finishings.
- TECTOR manufactures innovative products for masonry, plastering, flooring, waterproofing, repair, chemicals and 3D printing.
- SES Foam’s sucrose-based spray foam insulation improves energy efficiency and comfort while lowering a building’s carbon footprint.
- Airium™ mineral insulating foam insulates floors, walls and ceilings, enhancing the energy efficiency of the entire building envelope.
Nature in cities
We're focused on bringing more nature into cities.
We are becoming a global leader in roofing with systems including solar-enabling, cool and green roofs. These technologies enable cooler cities with more nature in them. Bringing vegetation and nature into cities, our green roofs go beyond reducing the heat island effect, also bringing in more oxygen to improve wellbeing and air control. Other solutions, such as Hydromedia permeable concrete support water management and recycling and enable urban forest growth.
Our nature strategy is a key component of our vision to decarbonize building. Holcim is in the top 1% of the 500 largest global companies for its science-driven biodiversity targets, and is the first in its sector to have a freshwater replenishment commitment. Protecting nature’s precious resources and bringing more nature into the built environment are at the core of our strategy.
Our nature-focused products and solutions are helping restore and preserve biodiversity in cities around the world. In Greece, our permeable concrete Hydromedia is being used to create “pocket parks” in downtown Athens.
Hydromedia is a water management system that rapidly absorbs rainwater from streets, parking surfaces, driveways and walkways at a rate of 500-600 L/min/m2 – 10,000 times more than standard soil. This innovative permeable concrete reduces the risk of flooding, replenishes groundwater and promotes urban tree growth.
Sustainable buildings in action
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