Kyoto,global warming and energy saving: the building industry is now on the front line. The Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997 and the Montreal Conference, which was help at the end of 2005, confirmed some of its most pessimistic forecasts. Scientists throughout the world are practically all in agreement about the risks to the planet from global warming due to greenhouse gases.

Worldwide C02 emissions in 1971 were 14 573 million tons per year and will probably rise to more than 30 million in 2010. The building sector, which represent 18.6% of C02 emissions, second only to transport (26.2%), directly concerned by the struggle to reduce energy consumption.

EVERYONE EXPECTS IT:

CONTRACTORS, CONTRACTING AUTHORITIES, AND USERS

In just a few years, awareness of these issues has spread rapidly in professional circles, essentially through the search for energy savings.

The recent ncrease in gas and oil prices, which has a large impact on consumer' budgets, mean that controlling energy consumption has become an important factor for any property investor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSUMING LESS ENERGY WILL SOON BECOME A LEAGAL OBLIGATION.

At the same time, a battery of regulations is being drawn up every day. Laws, technical standards, European directives, all point in the same direction: use less energy and use it more effectively. Quality-labels and programmes to encourage greater enviremontal awareness are multiplying throughout the world as well: HQE, Green building, Egergy Str, LEED, Cepheus, Minergie, DBCA, etc.. Today these initiatives are encouraged but will become mandatory in a few years time.