The innovative renovation wave in the European Union
The European Union has set ambitious targets set to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% from 1990 levels by 2030, with the ultimate goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050. While we have already achieved an impressive 24% reduction from 1990 levels in 2019 (4% above the targets set), projections for 2030 are less optimistic, with only a projected net reduction of 41%.
The EU has adopted 'The European Green Deal' introduced to achieve the green transition to 2050, with the central goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions. The construction sector, with its material and labor intensive nature, was responsible for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, 50% of energy consumption, 1/3 of water consumption and 50% of material flows in 2019. Rethinking traditional construction processes is crucial if we are to reach our 2050 goal.
Renovation of both public and private buildings plays a vital role in reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency in the building sector, contributing to the continental goal.
Even more striking is the fact that more than 220 million buildings were built before 2001, representing a staggering 85% of buildings in the EU. Amazingly, 85 to 95% of these buildings will still exist in 2050.
Given the high impact of the building sector and the fact that renovation will be a crucial part of achieving our goal, the challenge in the building sector lies in these questions: how are we going to renovate all these buildings energetically, with the minimum possible emissions and pollution, in the shortest possible time, without sacrificing quality of life?
SAM for Sustainable Renovation
At Bao Living, we have the solution: our Smart Adaptable Module (SAM). SAM allows us to support energetic renovations of EU buildings in an innovative way. We efficiently integrate heat pumps and convectors into our designs, achieving a low-temperature heating system with minimal energy consumption. In addition, SAM can be equipped with a demand-controlled ventilation system D with heat recovery, reducing heat loss and optimizing indoor air quality.
SAM and circularity
Circularity offers a further solution to minimize emissions and pollution. By fulfilling the same needs with fewer materials, we realize CO2 gains in extraction, production, transportation and waste disposal. Reuse of materials and buildings plays a crucial role here, as we need fewer new raw materials and materials. Closing the cycle of raw materials and materials reduces overall CO2 emissions.
SAM offers a solution that meets all of these requirements. Thanks to strategic positioning and patented skirting technology, we can conceal all techniques in superstructure, eliminating the need for grinding in screed and walls and reducing waste on the construction site. This promotes life extension of building structures, a crucial step to minimize climate impact.
Moreover, SAM is almost completely circular, as SAM is 98% demountable. This means that at the end of its life or when it is repurposed, it can be completely disassembled, where materials can be specifically reused or properly recycled.
SAM's modular design allows seamless integration around existing support elements, minimizing modifications to existing buildings without unnecessary demolition.
SAM's modular design allows it to be easily placed around existing support elements, minimizing modifications to existing buildings and avoiding unnecessary breaking.
Furnishing a unit with SAM also saves on the use of gyproc or concrete interior walls, as our closet walls separate kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. This results in less use of materials and resources, drastically reducing pollution. Partition walls are thus transformed into storage space.
Prefabrication
How can we achieve all this in the shortest possible time to meet the 2050 goals? With SAM, we aim for maximum prefabrication. We assemble all the corpus structures of the joinery at the factory, as well as the electrical boards and wiring harnesses, and as many HVAC components as possible.
SAM comes in convenient 60x60cm parts, making transport and installation easy without changing any major facade elements. This results in lightning-fast on-site installation, taking us from a shell apartment to a fully furnished home, including all technical features, in just 3 days. See here for more information.
Realizing a Sustainable Future with SAM
Building with SAM leads to a CO2 reduction of up to 5.5 tons. Moreover, we plant trees with every project to make the installation completely CO2 neutral. In this way, we contribute to the European Green Deal and provide an opportunity to improve efficiency in the construction sector, reduce emissions and promote sustainable construction practices in Europe. With SAM, we are on the way to a greener and more sustainable future for the construction sector.
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