亚博体育官网首页

Lafarge's in house efforts have driven it to recognise innovation in the industry that work towards meeting 'green' needs.India's energy demand will increase tremendously in the future, and problems of carbon emissions and restricted access to quality domestic and foreign energy resources will require the government to take energy efficiency and conservation to a higher level to achieve the tough goals it has set.Construction related activities account for a large portion of CO2 emission, and the contribution of the building industry to global warming can thus no longer be ignored. Modern buildings consume energy in five phases: manufacturing of building materials (embodied energy); transporting materials from production plants to the building site and in actual construction, (grey energy and induced energy, respectively); the operational phase corresponding to the running of the building when it is occupied; and finally, demolishing buildings as well as the recycling their parts.Environmentally responsibleLafarge recently launched a new joint project to develop 'low-carbon' concrete. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in construction involves reducing energy needs, both in terms of manufacturing products, including concrete, as well as the building's comfort and functioning. The carbon tax also addresses this question.It is estimated that 90 per cent of concrete's environmental footprint comes from its ingredients. Through advances in R&D, Lafarge is now capable of infinitely varying its products' formulation by adjusting materials, admixtures and additives used in the composition. This not only reduces the carbon footprint but also helps the material to precisely adapt its characteristics to the use for which it is intended.Building responsiblySustainable construction requires taking into account the very close links between construction methods, architecture and urban planning questions (density, organisation of mobility, etc.). We have made enormous progress in this field, especially as a result of partnerships forged with architecture firms, engineering offices and construction companies, says Pascal Casanova, Director, Lafarge R&D. Amongst all the criteria contributing to sustainable construction, Lafarge has focused particularly on reducing the energy consumed and the related issue of CO2 emissions. First, because it has been made a vital area by global warming and dwindling fossil fuels; second, due to the proportion of energy consumed by buildings on a global scale, which represents nearly 40 per cent! The expected strengthening of national thermal regulations also makes it a vital question for the industry.Inhouse technologyLafarge's teams have used Life cycle Analysis (LCA) to carry out two studies in a detached house and a small apartment block in France to identify the most effective construction method. Conclusions provide practical information about concrete's contribution to eco-design: thermal inertia, airtightness, building compactness, orientation and openings, choice of materials, quantity of materials, lifecycle and recycling. Concrete-based construction systems make it possible to obtain a high level of comfort and increased energy efficiency for little cost. Another advantage is the long lifespan of concrete, which improves the environmental footprint. Also, contrary to accepted ideas, constructing sustainably is advantageous in terms of overall cost.Indian needsIn India, the estimated medium-term potential for energy saving, as per the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) assessment, is of the order of 15 per cent at a conservative level. This could potentially reduce the need for an additional capacity addition of almost 100,000 MW from the capacity of 600,000 MW planned till 2030. The BEE has focused on strategies and measures to ensure that the attractiveness of energy efficiency translates into its widespread diffusion and adoption. These measures centre on creating incentives to motivate the various stakeholders to gainfully engage in energy-efficiency based economic activities.Awarding innovationBeing a global company, Lafarge has had to adapt its strategy, commercial approach and product range to diverse markets. Hence, the infinite variety of formulations for concrete makes it possible to adjust its composition according to local resources and needs. With an industrial presence in India spanning more than 10 years, Lafarge is today seeking to promote innovation for sustainable construction in India and to strengthen its ties with materials, science and construction experts across the country through Lafarge Invention Awards 2011. The competition targets entrepreneurs or new companies, engineering consultants, architects, researchers and academics in India, who will have from September 1 until November 30, 2011 to submit their entries, via a secure website www.lafargeinventionawards.com(Communication by the management of the company)