Integrated solutions to combine performance and sustainability

To optimize a building's overall energy performance, various products and services are combined are combined to create effective solutions at every level: facades are transformed into thermal shields, and windows become capable of managing heat and light flows naturally.

Decarbonization

Analysis

5 min

19/03/2025

While today's industry can count on a wide range of innovations to optimize every stage of the building life cycle, the effectiveness of these innovations depends on a global approach. Building sustainably no longer means simply assembling innovative products, but rather providing solutions to complex environmental and comfort issues.

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The equation for players in the building sector involves four variables that now need to be addressed simultaneously. On the one hand, performance requirements mean optimizing economic value while guaranteeing better quality. On the other hand, the need for sustainability means reconciling the environmental transition with the well-being of occupants.

The building blocks of the solution approach: products, systems and services

Imagine a building where every component is an instrument playing to a perfectly orchestrated score. This metaphor illustrates the silent revolution that is transforming the construction sector today. The integrated solutions approach redefines the rules of the game. Rather than simply combining products, it involves creating a score in which each component plays a precise role in relation to the others.

In practice, the Solutions approach cleverly combines three complementary factors:

- products, designed to meet precise technical requirements.
- systems, which combine different products to create a coherent functional whole
- and services, which complement this offer to deliver a complete solution.

This synergy enables professionals to exploit the full potential of each component through smart combinations, while drawing on their specialist expertise to create bespoke solutions.

From design to implementation: the solution approach in action

How does the intelligent combination of products, services and expertise play out on the ground? Take the example of building renovation, where every surface, from floor to ceiling, has to play an active part in energy efficiency. For roofing, new-generation systems combine insulation and waterproofing in all-in-one solutions. Façades are transformed into smart heat shields. Windows, meanwhile, become active interfaces, capable of naturally managing heat and light flows. Even the indoor insulation is transformed, maximizing performance without sacrificing living space. To work, this approach requires designing products that fit into complete Solutions, and extending their assessment grids to include their contribution to environmental sustainability, user well-being, economic performance and user experience.

EnveoVent, is a good example of the solution approach. It’s a complete wall system that meets thermal, acoustic and fire-resistance performance requirements, and also emits less CO₂ than traditional constructions. It was created by combining the products of British Gypsum, Isover, Okarno, Scotframe and Weber.

Another example is light construction. By combining products, systems and services suited to its off-site production methods, this technique can address a wide range of environmental and
performance issues:

faster construction times are halved on average.
less expensive savings of 10-20% compared with conventional construction, or even more for a series of identical buildings.
superior quality manufacturing conditions are always the same, and the finishing is easier to control.
more circularity at end-of-life, components and modules can easily be dismantled for reuse or recycling.
better resource management raw materials, energy, water and waste.
optimized building sites safer and more comfortable working conditions, less noise and dust, and reduced transport requirements, thus lowering CO 2 emissions.

Example of solutions for light construction of an office building. The ceilings don’t just divide up the space, they also regulate the acoustics and contribute to air quality. The partitions improve acoustic performance and provide fire protection. The light façades incorporate insulation and solar control into compact systems

Infrastructure can benefit too

Solutions developed for bridges, tunnels and roads have to meet multiple challenges: increased resistance to climate hazards, reduced carbon footprint, optimized lifespan, improved circularity of resources and ease of maintenance. All these are needed simultaneously, to build more resilient and sustainable infrastructure.

A modern bridge perfectly illustrates this holistic approach. High-performance admixture strengthens the concrete, waterproofing solutions protect the decks, while structural waterproofing systems make the bridge durable. On the roadway, anti-skid coatings ensure safe traffic flow. A technical score in which each component contributes to the overall durability and resilience of the structure.

In the United States, innovations in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) enabled a bridge deck to be renovated in record time, with reduced CO₂ emissions. This is the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the first in the United States to feature the use of UHPC. Bespoke admixture that Chryso supplied to the concrete producer resulted in improved performance, with less concrete used and thus reduced CO₂ impact. The bridge now has a low-maintenance deck designed to last more than 50 years, reducing overall project costs.

Over and above its practical benefits in terms of performance and sustainability, the solution approach is a catalyst for innovation. By working closely with customers to meet their specific needs, new solutions are constantly emerging. Materials are becoming more efficient and more durable, construction systems are being optimized, and digital services are facilitating implementation. But the real strength of this approach lies in its adaptability. This agility is crucial, not only to meet current needs in the sector, but also to anticipate future developments and ensure constant alignment with its specific constraints, whether climatic, regulatory or functional.