The building sector accounts for about 40% of the European Union’s energy consumption and holds one of the largest savings potentials. According to the National Building Renovation Plan, modernizing the entire Polish building stock could save 305 TWh of electricity annually.
Rising electricity bills are shifting the approach to energy transformation. In the EU, it is becoming increasingly clear that alongside investments in photovoltaics, wind farms, and power grids, improving energy efficiency is just as important. The building sector plays a special role here.
– In recent years, we have focused mainly on how to produce more electricity. Today, the question of how to use less is equally important. Every kilowatt-hour saved means lower bills, greater energy independence, and less CO2 emissions – said Małgorzata Jasińska, managing director for Eastern Europe at Somfy.
Big potential hidden in buildings and smart home solutions
According to the report „The cheapest kWh is the one we don’t use,” prepared by ASM Research Solutions Strategy for Somfy, a comprehensive approach to energy efficiency is key. This means not only replacing windows or insulating walls but also intelligent energy management through the automation of external shading.
– It is increasingly visible that high operating costs result not only from the building’s construction but also from its daily use. Inefficient control of heating or cooling causes losses that thermal modernization alone will not eliminate – Jasińska emphasized.
According to Somfy’s analysis, automatic external blinds can lower indoor temperature by 4-7°C in summer, reducing the need for air conditioning by up to 70%. In winter, they help cut heat loss and better use natural sunlight, resulting in 10-30% lower heating energy consumption.
Smart home as a standard of the future
Smart home solutions combine control of blinds, heating, cooling, and lighting into one system. They respond to weather conditions in real time without user involvement. Solar-powered blinds and screens, which require no wall drilling and can operate for up to 45 days without direct sunlight, are particularly practical.
Although awareness of the importance of automation in energy savings is growing, its adoption varies across Europe. In France, external blinds are standard in about 75% of new buildings, in the Czech Republic about 40%, while in Poland only about 10% of investments include them – Jasińska noted.
EU regulations are also driving change. The amended EPBD directive requires new public and non-residential buildings to be zero-emission from 2028, and residential buildings from 2030. By 2050, the entire building sector in the EU must achieve full climate neutrality.
In Poland, programs such as „Clean Air” have focused mainly on replacing heat sources, thermal modernization, and renewable energy installations. However, voices are increasingly calling for these programs to also include energy management technologies, including home automation.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Shutterstock
