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350³ ● Thermal insulation in buildings and its contribution to climate protection
Background information
The CO2 content of the atmosphere was at a level of 379 ppm in the year 2005, which is
0.0379 percentage volume. This is 35% higher than in1750, before the Industrial Age began
(German Federal Environment Agency, 2007). In the period since 1750, Man has achieved
developments that have fundamentally changed production and living conditions – and faster
than ever before in history. We have discovered how to mine fuels and raw materials from
the earth with new technologies, and turned them into affluence for many people.
In the 100 years from 1906 to 2005, the average global ground temperature rose by 0.74°C
(German Federal Environment Agency, 2007). Today, most people are quite sure that this
increase in temperature can be attributed to emissions caused by Man. It is also a widely
held view that the 2°C increase compared with the pre-industrial era is a significant figure for
us, and above which there would be a threat of dramatic damage from climate and weather
phenomena.
Today, nobody knows exactly what the temperature on earth will be in the middle to end of
the 21st century. But we can estimate this very well using scientific methods. Amongst other
things, these are based on the increase in population and economic growth, environmental
protection levels and future technological developments. Up-to-date studies conclude that we
can assume an increase in temperature of about 1.8 to 4.0°C, meaning that the average
temperature would then be 2.3 to 4.5°C above the pre-industrial figure. (German Federal
Environment Agency, 2007).
The major concepts
Greenhouse effect: the earth’s atmosphere contains water vapour and carbon dioxide, and
works like a greenhouse: it lets sunlight through easily, but does not release heat back out
again very well .This is why temperatures on earth are rising - one of the fundamental
conditions for life on earth as we know it.
Man-made greenhouse effect: human activity releases emissions of certain substances
that increase the natural greenhouse effect. The additional increase in temperature caused
by Man is called the man-made greenhouse effect.
Radiative forcing: greenhouse gases affect the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere
(increasing the temperature) exactly as if the earth were being heated from another source
(e.g. additional sunlight). To compare these effects, the physical entity of "radiative forcing"
(W/m²) has been introduced.
Emissions: another name for the emission of substances (here in the
atmosphere)/substances released.
Climate change: this describes how we can expect increased temperatures from the manmade greenhouse effect– and fundamental changes to the long-term weather pattern (=
climate) , too.
Greenhouse gases: this generally means all the gases in the atmosphere that contribute to
the natural/man-made greenhouse effect. The predominant greenhouse gases released by
humans are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, partially halogenated fluorocarbons,
perfluorintated hydrocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride.
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The greenhouse effect and climate change
Without the natural greenhouse effect, the earth would have a surface temperature of approx
-18°C. The earth’s atmosphere does contain small amounts of gases such as carbon dioxide,
water vapour and methane. These allow the incoming sunlight to penetrate, but prevent heat
radiation (from the earth into space). This gives an average air temperature on the earth‘s
surface of +15°C. This figure applies to the pre-industrial era - until circa 1750; in recent
history, the earth’s natural greenhouse effect has created a temperature of approx 33°C
(Latif, 2006).
Added to this, we now have the man-made greenhouse effect. It currently “only “amounts to
0.74°C, but the tendency is increasing significantly, and with worsening effects.
Previous effects of climate change
Over the 20th century (to be more precise: between1906 and 2005), the average global
ground level temperature rose by 0.74°C. At the same time, mountain glaciers and snow
cover in the northern and southern hemispheres reduced on average. Global sea levels rose
on average by 17cm during the 20th century, and the sea is spreading because it is heating
up, and because the melting of glaciers, ice caps and ice sheets are adding more water.
(IPCC 2007a, P. 5-9 and the German Federal Environment Agency, 2007)
In far-flung parts of Europe, spring started to arrive 6 to 8 days earlier between 1971 and the
year 2000. This can be deduced by looking back across many years to observe when
different blossom types started to open. (Obermayr, 2006a)
Future effects - global
In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a report
summarising the current state of climate research (IPCC 2007a-c). Results from three
extremely important scenarios are shown in the table below:
Projected average global warming of the earth’s surface for the period 2090 – 2099
compared to 1980 – 1999 (according to IPCC 2007a, P. 13 and the German Federal
Environment Agency, 2007, P.3)
Emissions scenario
Best estimate of
change against
today
Best estimate of
change against the
pre-industrial level
Probable range of the
change against today
B1
1.8°C
2.3°C
1.1 – 2.9°C
A1B
2.8°C
3.3°C
1.7 – 4.4°C
A1FI
4.0°C
4.5°C
2.4 – 6.4°C
Critical limit for extreme climate change: 2.0°C
The scenarios are outlined in the IPCC 2007a, P. 18.
It is important to note that, in all these estimates, the critical value – a global temperature
increase of von 2.0°C – is exceeded by the end of the 21st century.
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There are many other consequences to this increase in temperature (German Federal
Environment Agency, 2007, P.4 and IPCC 2007 b, P. 24ff), including:
• A significant increase in sea levels due to the melting of glaciers and ice caps on the
mainland (when floating ice melts, there is no effect on sea level)
• Increasing acidity of the oceans (because they absorb CO2 and turn it into carbonic
acid), which prohibits the formation of calcium carbonate, which is a danger to aquatic
life in terms of growing bones and shells
• Higher rainfall volumes in upland regions, and reduced rainfall volumes in subtropical
mainland regions
• Increase in extreme weather events such as heat waves, torrential rain and heavy
storms.
If there is a medium temperature increase (1.5°C to 3.5°C compared to the pre-industrial
level), we can expect the following effects, amongst others (German Federal Environment
Agency, 2007, P.6-7):
• Up to 3 million more people will be threatened by coastal flooding.
• Up to 2 billion people will suffer water shortages (because rainfall in subtropical
mainland regions is decreasing, and glaciers, important reserves of water, are
melting).
• Increased health problems due to malnourishment, dysentery, cardiac diseases,
respiratory diseases and infections
• 20 to 30 percent of animal and plant species threatened with extinction
• If the critical limit of a 2°C increase in temperature is exceeded long-term, there is a
danger that the Greenland ice sheet will melt within a few centuries, causing sea
levels to rise by approx 7metres.
Causes of climate change - substances
The "natural" greenhouse effect is mainly caused by water vapour, carbon dioxide and
methane.
The main greenhouse gases produced by Man are:
• Carbon dioxide (CO2)
• Methane (CH4)
• Nitrous oxide = Laughing gas (N2O)
• Partially halogenated fluorinated hydrocarbons (H-FKW/HFC)
• Perfluorinated hydrocarbons (FKW/PFC)
• Sulphur dioxide (SF6).
The aim of the Kyoto Protocol is to limit emissions of these gases.
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Carbon dioxide– the predominant man-made greenhouse gas
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a natural component of air. All living things release CO2 via
respiration, and green plants absorb it to create glucose through photosynthesis as a source
material for other organic substances.
Man releases additional CO2 in the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, crude oil, natural gas).
And felling forests increases the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere, as carbon previously
stored in the wood or the earth is converted (sooner or later) into CO2.
In 2005, the earth’s atmosphere contained 379 ppm CO2 (0.0379 percentage volume; 1 ppm
= 1 part per million). This means that the CO2 content of the atmosphere had increased by
35% since the pre-industrial era (circa 1750). CO2 emissions are still increasing – in spite of
all the talk about climate change. (IPCC 2007a, P. 2)
In the years 2000 to 2005, Man produced CO2 emissions of approx 32.3 Gt (8.8 Gt carbon).
A good 80% came from the consumption of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), and the other 20%
came from "changes in land use" – mainly deforestation of the land and the destruction of
soil, which are both natural storage sites for carbon (the proportion due to changes in land
use is currently highly uncertain IPCC 2007a, P. 2-3).
In 2004, approx 77% of the man-made greenhouse effect was attributable to CO2 (IPCC
2007c, P. 42).
Since this makes CO2 the predominant and best-known greenhouse gas, and because other
greenhouse gases have a different level of effect, greenhouse gas emissions are now
expressed as a CO2 equivalent.
Causes of climate change – industry sectors
Major causes of climate change (inc according to IPCC 2007c, P. 42ff) are:
• The energy industry(including private energy consumption), which releases CO2 by
combusting coal, oil and gas (it is here that emissions are currently increasing at the
quickest rate)
• transportation, which is mainly run on oil today, releasing CO2
• agriculture, which is responsible for the release of methane from the stomach gases
of ruminants and emissions of sulphur dioxide – incl from the slurry industry
• industry, which requires energy (see energy industry) and produces greenhouse
gases such as partially halogenated hydro fluorocarbons (H-FKW/HFC),
perfluorinated hydrocarbons (FKW/PFC) and sulphur dioxide (SF6), using them and
releasing them into the atmosphere.
Finally, there is the issue of land use, including CO2 emissions from fire clearance and the
destruction of soil/moorland and the release of methane from the thawing of permafrost
zones.
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Causes of climate change - countries
Which countries are most responsible for climate change? The climate protection index
issued by Germanwatch offers helpful basic data:
Top Ten countries for CO2 emissions (according to Germanwatch 2008)
Country
Germany
Proportion of energy-related CO2
emissions (%)
Proportion of the world
population (%)
3
1.28
India
4.23
17.02
Great Britain
1.95
0.94
China
18.8
20.39
Italy
1.67
0.91
Japan
4.47
1.99
Russian Federation
5.69
2.23
Republic of Korea
1.65
0.75
Canada
2.02
0.5
USA
21.44
4.61
Top Ten Total
64.92
50.62
There is an interactive world map at www.weltkarte-klimapolitik.de/; you can select your own
display settings and create thematic maps according to climate policy. For example, you can
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show which countries have signed the Kyoto Protocol, how much energy they use or how
much CO2 they generate per head - you can show all of this as an overview.
Causes of climate change – the role of the individual
What is the contribution of each individual to climate change? The businessman who goes to
work every day in a car that befits his rank, or the nature-lover who flies to another country
once or twice a year – they both generate more greenhouse gases than a school pupil, for
example, who only travels a few kilometres, or a pensioner, who spends every evening in the
garden.
The following diagram shows the average values for different areas of everyday life in
Germany:
It is clear that heating is an important area contributing to climate change.
Goals and strategies for climate protection
It is a central aim of climate protection initiatives to cap the global temperature increase to
2°C maximum against the pre-industrial era to prevent extremely adverse effects related to
climate. For example, it is the official goal of EU environmental policy, and is also required by
the German federal Environment Agency (2007).
To achieve this goal, the concentration of (all) greenhouse gases in the atmosphere should
never exceed a level of 400 ppm CO2 equivalent substances.
To achieve this, the increase in greenhouse gas emissions must be halted as soon as
possible, and then be dramatically reduced; these emissions are currently continuing to rise
on a global level – despite all efforts at climate protection. This can be summarized as
follows:
350³
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State of the atmosphere
Global greenhouse gas Greenhouse gas
emissions
emissions in Germany*
Reduce to 96.8 % of
1990** by 2012
The global average temperature should not
exceed 2°C above the pre-industrial level.
Halt the increase by
And the concentration of all greenhouse gases 2020
should never exceed 400 ppm CO2 equivalent.
Reduce to 50 % of
1990** by 2050
Reduce to 79 % of 1990**
by 2012
Reduce to 60 % of 1990**
by 2020
Reduce to 20 % of 1990**
by 2050
According to German Federal Environment Agency (2005 and 2007)
* and other industrial countries
** Kyoto Protocol – It is clear that this target will not be reached, as emissions are currently continuing
to rise.
*** German Federal Statistics Agency, 2007; This target has nearly been reached already.
Industrial countries should achieve above average reductions, because, in the past, they
have released proportionally high levels of greenhouse gases, which has created their
current position of affluence today. And, over the long term, at least every year, half as much
greenhouse gas should be released compared to 1990.
The major environment protection technologies required to achieve this are already available
to us today, or will be soon. These include:
• greater efficiency in terms of energy consumption, especially through better insulation
in buildings and energy-saving appliances, machines and vehicles
• greater efficiency in terms of energy production, especially through modern power
stations and the cogeneration of heat and power
• switching from fuels such as coal and oil to natural gas (transitionally), and especially
renewable energy sources.
The climate protection strategy of the German Federal Environment Agency can be
summarized thus: "Halve primary energy consumption and develop renewable energies to
deliver 50% of energy supply " (UBA 2007, P.12).
The question of whether we can restrict climate change does not depend on the technology
available (techniques are either available now or under development).The question is rather
whether politicians can create the necessary conditions, whether industry makes the
necessary changes to its trajectory and whether every individual on the planet makes a
commitment in his own particular area.
Thermal insulation in buildings and its contribution to climate protection
The issue of thermal insulation in buildings is a case in point in terms of climate protection:
•
Heating buildings with fuels such as coal, oil and gas adds to emissions of CO2 – the
predominant greenhouse gas released by human activity; the greater the
consumption of energy, the greater the emissions of CO2.
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•
The energy industry is the biggest man-made source of CO2; heating buildings is one
of the major areas served by the energy industry.
•
Thermal insulation is a fundamental part of the climate protection strategy, increasing
the efficiency of energy consumption.
The Umweltbüro Nord e.V. Company has been conducting school projects for 10 years now
on the subject of climate change and energy conservation (Langner, 2008a). In several
schools, pupils have worked out the specific level of heating energy consumption (kWh/m² a
= kilowatt hours per square metre of usable surface per year). The values calculated are
between approx 100 kWh/m² a and 300 kWh/m² a (Langner, 2008b).
Against the “state of technology”, these rates of consumption range from moderate to
extremely high.
Evaluation of heating energy consumption
Specific consumption
Evaluation
< 20 kWh / m² a
excellent("low energy house" standard)
20-70 kWh / m² a
Very good (low energy house and standard of the German Energy
Saving Ordinance of 2002)
70-100 kWh / m² a
good (standard of the German Heat Insulation Ordinance of 1995)
100-150 kWh / m² a
moderate
150-250 kWh / m² a
Average non-refurbished old building with a high potential for saving
energy
>250 kWh / m² a
Extremely high; energy-related refurbishment essential
Pupils and teachers can help to reduce heating energy consumption in their school by
controlling room temperatures and, where necessary, setting the thermostats correctly and
asking the caretaker to set the heating and thermostats correctly. Classrooms should be at
20°C; if the room temperature is only 1°C higher, heating energy consumption increases by
6%. Pupils and teachers can also help by ensuring that there is correct ventilation during
heating periods – short and sharp, and that windows and doors are otherwise kept shut.
The wide range of consumption values shown above is not explained by different room
temperatures alone. The insulation in the school building (shell) and efficiency of the heating
system are other important influential factors. The school authority is responsible for this (in
Germany). Pupils and teachers can mainly “only” draw attention to the relevant problems and
call for changes. But they can also be actively involved, as demonstrated by the “Energy
wins!” initiative.
Pupils insulate their school: the "Energy wins!" initiative in Jena, Germany
Pupils can help towards climate protection in their school by insulating the ceiling on the top
floor of their school and also improving the thermal efficiency of the windows by sealing
draughts and applying insulation film to windows.
These measures can be carried out by each department, either in the school holidays or as
part of project weeks. A teaching unit should form an important part of these insulation
initiatives to familiarise pupils with the energy-related, financial and ecological effects of their
insulation projects.
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By insulating the top-floor ceiling, heat loss from this area can be reduced by 75 to 90 %!
Depending on structure and cubage, this can amount to 10 to 25 % savings on the entire
cost for heating the building.
By march 2008, the "Energy wins!" initiative in Thüringen managed to insulate over 80
schools and other buildings. The school authorities have invested over 600,000 Euros in this
to date. But this saves them 235,000 Euros a year in heating costs. This means that the
investment will be recouped in 2.6 years through reduced energy costs.
The energy saved represents about 42 tanker loads of heating oil, or the annual amount of
energy from a solar panel measuring one metre wide and 10km long! (“Energy wins!” 2008)
Sources
• Germanwatch (2008a): The Climate Change Performance Index 2008. Online
document, URL: www.germanwatch.org/klima/ccpi2008.pdf, last checked: 22.2.2008
• Germanwatch (2008b): Climate Protection Index 2008 (Summary page). Online
document, URL: www.germanwatch.org/klima/ksi.htm, last checked: 22.2.2008
• Energy wins! (2008): Online document, URL: www.energie-gewinnt.de/sa.html , last
checked: 22.2.2008
• IPCC 2007(a): Summary for political decision makers. In: Climate change 2007:
Scientific Bases. Contribution of working group I to the fourth progress report of the
IPCC, Online document, URL: www.de-ipcc.de/download/IPCC2007FullDocument.pdf, last checked: 7.9.2008
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Effects, adaptation, vulnerability. Contribution of working group II to the fourth
progress report of the IPCC, Online document, URL: www.deipcc.de/download/IPCC2007-FullDocument.pdf, last checked: 7.9.2008
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reduction of climate change. Contribution of working group III to the fourth progress
report of the IPCC, Online document, URL: www.de-ipcc.de/download/IPCC2007FullDocument.pdf, last checked: 7.9.2008
• Langner, Tilman (2008a): Use your energy to save energy. Online document; URL:
www.umweltschulen.de/energie, last checked: 10.11.2008
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Energy crisis. Berlin: Solarpraxis, 2006, P. 65-72
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P. 9
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Germany. Indicator report2006. Online document; URL:
www.destatis.de/jetspeed/portal/cms/Sites/destatis/Internet/
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last checked: 18.10.2007
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• German Federal Environment Agency (2005): The future in our hands. 21 essays on
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