Interview with Luis C. Blanco and Luis Iglesias, specialists of Schüco Iberia
September 23, 2009
What is an intelligent facade?
The intelligent facade is a closure consisting of a series of systems that, either individually or collectively, take advantage of environmental variations in search of inner comfort and energy savings.
The variables that we can act are very diverse: can range from a solar incidence, control, the movement of air temperature difference through isolation, ventilation or the orientation of the façade.
And how SCHUCO contributes to this market?
For years, the traditional light facades (systems SCHUCO FW50 +, FW60 + or CFS 85) or modular (Schüco USC 65 or UCC 65), fixed or movable elements of sunscreen (Schüco ALB), photovoltaic modules (SCHUCO ProSol) can be integrated easilymotorized openings (Schüco TipTronic) and elements of anchoring and fixing of other systems. This allows an infinite variety of solutions that adapt to the most demanding requirements of the architectural envelope.
Schüco provides for "the widest range of solutions both carpentry and light facade, as well as the possibility of integrating them other as Sun protection, domotic control systems or of energy capture". In this way, is at the service of industrial and designers the necessary elements to develop any solution of facade with the highest quality and safety.
"Our current technological challenge is just deepening the development of comprehensive and integrated, in search of more efficient management of energy resources and safeguard the environment and to the maximum," explained from the company.
An example of this is the Energy² façade.
Yes, it is designed to integrate in a simple way systems of renewal, ventilation, solar control and uptake of energy in a single facade.
And thus saves energy...
Yes, something essential. The Union between population growth and the pursuit of prosperity is resulting increasingly high consumption of natural resources, which in many cases are scarce or limited. The message and the task is clear: the responsible use of energy resources and new ways to generate clean energy.
How is exceeded the challenge?
The key lies in saving energy and generating. The buildings that consume less energy and also her can be generated independently will play a key role in reducing energy consumption and the costs of the same. In addition, they will help the conservation of the environment.
Particular level the possibility of generating energy is complex, but simple and economic solutions such as the incorporation of Sun protection, the improvement of the isolation of the Windows or an effective system of ventilation systems allow that we can contribute considerably to energy saving.
A House do today without electricity, oil or natural gas? Do can be autonomous energy-talking and respectful with the environment?
Precisely, the Energy², the flag of SCHUCO concept, proposed and justifies the building with energy balance zero, i.e. one that produces within a year the energy that he same demand during that period. However, it's a concept. In practice, resources from the Sun are not predictable in every day and energy accumulation systems are expensive, dangerous and polluting (stack of hydrogen or electric batteries, for example).
So, for now, neither can nor should dispense with the conventional energy.
It is our mission to use all available resources as effectively as possible. And this happens to install best available isolation, to seek lower energy demand to satisfy the required conditions of comfort and availability, and finally generate the greater part of electric and thermal energy that makes any efficient and cost-effective building for the twenty-first century intelligent user.
Solar installations represent a great investment. Why is it so expensive?
Solar energy is an undoubted machine generate income. We ask owners of photovoltaic or consumers of domestic hot water by revenues or savings. Then already only is adapting the costs of solar energy at the level of who carried out the investment and their precise needs, neither more nor less, and keep in mind that the long-term starred in the return of the already famous solar benefits.
These benefits that, in the case of photovoltaics, have led to a new regulation of premiums to charge that he lessens them are so famous. On the other hand, this has led to a proportional reduction in costs, by returning to the photovoltaic returns and returns very similar to the previous times and highlighting the great interest of this business by investors due to its profitability and safety.
How long does it take to recover this investment?
In the PV business, returns of 7% for 25 years are than usual, with the security of being regulated. In thermal systems, return times are about 8 years, and left another 15 or 20 of net profit.
As well as solar thermal and photovoltaic systems, the company offers other proposals for energy saving. Tell us about them.
Schüco International KG technological competition lies in the development and implementation of innovative systems of high quality for the envelope of the building. Schüco offers a wide portfolio of products with high quality materials that meet requirements even more demanding as regards energy efficiency, security, comfort and design refers, from the avant-garde technology for Windows and facades to the sustainable and efficient solar solutions and individual solutions.
Energy consumption is reduced significantly through the insulation and the automation of buildings. Thanks to the solar photovoltaic and thermal heat recovery technology, the facade of the building has gone to become an autonomous power plant that produces electricity, heat and even cold.
With Energy2, Schüco is setting a series of quality criteria throughout the world and demonstrating that the urgent protection of the environment and business success are not mutually exclusive goals. For years, the use of environmentally friendly energy sources and renewable sources has been a key part of the company, which manufactures innovative systems for buildings and facades with a policy of saving and power generation. For his environmental consciousness, Schüco is not only limited to reduce emissions: those who put their trust in the experience of the company in facades, Windows, doors and solar energy, obtained a number of advantages, both from an economic point of view of design. Through a considerable saving in energy, improved energy efficiency and the applied sustainability, Schüco solutions enhance the value of any property.
How is the home of the future?
As we said before, the objective of the new construction goes back to the origins of the building, as a body that regulates itself after the excesses of demand and energy consumption.
Schüco International KG operates in the Iberian peninsula since 1991. With headquarters in Valdemoro (Madrid), has facilities of more than 22,000 square meters hosting divisions that are currently members of the company: aluminium, PVC and Solar. Currently, Schüco Iberia has direct presence in A Coruña, Barcelona, Bilbao, Lisbon, Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, Seville and Valencia, where also his Solar logistics centre to the South of Europe.