One of the most striking facts that have emerged over the last few years, especially as VCs and startups have turned their attention toward the climate crisis, is that our cities produce an enormous amount of CO2: In fact, buildings are responsible for around 40% of global CO2 emissions. However, it’s unlikely that cities will stop building and growing. Some estimates suggest that if global urban growth continues at its current pace, we would build a New York City every month for the next 40 years.
If we could reduce this amount or transition this growth to ‘net zero’ (or better), we would alleviate a significant portion of the impending and disastrous affects of climate change. This is why we are seeing many new climate funds appear, which are focusing on the built environment.
A Large Part of the Problem: Unsustainable Materials
A large part of this problem is that concrete and steel are not sustainable materials. Unlike timber, these materials have a significant carbon footprint due to their production process. In fact, research has shown that the embodied energy in buildings can be up to 30% of the total energy used over its lifespan.
011h: A Potential Solution
Based out of Barcelona, 011h thinks it might have the answer. The company’s founders believe that by standardizing and digitizing the building process, making it repeatable and scalable while shifting sustainable materials, we can allow architects, builders, developers, and investors to make net-zero buildings faster, cheaper, and more sustainable.
A Successful Pilot Project
011h has already completed a pilot project with Renta Corporación, a publicly traded developer. The building process used manual labor and unsustainable materials, but 011h was able to reduce the ’embodied carbon’ of the building by more than 90% compared to conventional methods, while construction timelines were reduced by 35%.
A New Era for Sustainable Buildings
This pilot project has led to three more major projects being commissioned. No doubt partly as a result of this success, 011h has now raised a significant €25 million in Series A funding. The funding round was led by Redalpine, accompanied by Seaya Andromeda and Breega, with the participation of Aldea Ventures, among others.
The Impact of Sustainable Buildings
Lucas Bernal, co-founder of 011h, emphasized the importance of sustainable buildings in reducing CO2 emissions: "We need to rethink the way we build our cities. By using sustainable materials and designing buildings for energy efficiency, we can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
Bernal also highlighted the economic benefits of sustainable buildings: "Not only do sustainable buildings save money on energy costs, but they also increase property values and improve occupant health and well-being."
A New Era for Sustainable Buildings
The success of 011h’s pilot project and their recent funding round signal a new era for sustainable buildings. As cities continue to grow and urbanize, it is essential that we prioritize sustainable building practices.
With the help of companies like 011h, we can create net-zero buildings that not only reduce CO2 emissions but also improve occupant health and well-being while increasing property values. The future of sustainable buildings has never looked brighter.
