New research confirms that automated solar shading is a key solution to reach 2050’s decarbonisation goals for the European building stock.

Climate change, causing higher temperatures, longer and more intense heatwaves, will significantly increase energy demand and associated GHG emissions for space cooling in buildings for the next decades. The International Energy Agency 2018 report “The Future of Cooling” warned policymakers of air-conditioners (ACs) as the fastest growing energy users in buildings in Europe and worldwide. The IEA is very clear about it, AC is becoming one of the top drivers of global electricity demand. The need for more sustainable, passive and low-energy cooling solutions is eminent.

A recent Guidehouse study compared solar shading solutions with AC  to reduce overheating in buildings in a changing climate towards 2050 and showed that smart (automated operating) solar shading could reduce the energy consumption for space cooling up to 60% in European buildings by 2050. It could prevent 100 million tonnes of CO2 emissions and is cost efficient saving 285 billion euros and at the same time adapting the European building stock to climate change effects. 

The Guidehouse Policy Brief, "Solar shading – Synergising mitigation of GHG emissions and adaptation to climate change" , Guidehouse Germany GmbH, 5 November 2021, read here 

The Infographic of the Guidehouse Study, read here  ENGLISH,  SPANISH,  GERMAN, DUTCH, ITALIAN,  SWEDISH 

The Executive Summary of the Policy Brief, February 2022, read here ENG, FR, GERMAN, DUTCH, FIN, SWEDISH; ITALIAN ; CZECH ; SPAIN

Press Release : As global warming is accelerating solar shading should be the first solution in the fight against overheating of buildings, February 2022, see English ; Dutch; French; German ; Italian ; Finnish ; Spanish ; Czech; Norwegian