Energy Superfacts: The Circular City

A circular city is one that reduces construction costs by 30-50%, CO2 emissions by tenfold, and land consumption by 75%. 

 

  • Planning and design - Multi-purpose spaces, recyclable raw materials, inspiration from nature.

  • Saving natural resources - The construction sector consumes one third of world raw materials and is responsible for 11% of global emissions. 40% of municipal solid waste comes from the demolition of buildings, 54% of construction waste in Europe ends up in landfills.

  • New materials - With 3D printing and prefabricated structures timescales can be cut by 50-70%, the use of recycled building materials reduces CO2 emissions by 40-70%. 

  • Vertical forests - façades of buildings are covered with plants and leads to 10/20% less particulates in the air. Building's roofs, façades and even windows can be solar panels.

  • Better use of spaces - 60% of offices in Europe are unused during working hours. The solution is to create commercial and working spaces that can be shared by citizens: and coworking. 

  • Maintenance and control - using smart technology to manage and monitor buildings, modernise facilities to reuse them and adapt them for new uses. Focus on the energy efficiency of buildings.

  • Maintenance and control in the circular city: 1 euro invested in the care of buildings generates up to 5 euros of wealth. 

  • Energy - Efficiency reduces waste between 62.9% and 73%. Revamping saves between 20% and 30%. Smart solutions reduce consumption by 10%.

  • Less waste - In the circular city temperatures are 2-8 degrees lower in the summer, reducing air conditioning by 30%. Between 20% and 30% of energy for heating is saved.