Bayer Climate Program - Champions Cup for intelligent roofing concept

July 31, 2009

August winners published study promoting the use of insulating materials

Champions Cup for intelligent roofing concept

BMS Bayer MaterialScience researchers have been presented with the Champions Cup, the highest award the company can give for outstanding team achievements, in recognition of a study published in the United States.

Polyurethane raw materials from Bayer MaterialScience are of vital importance for the production of insulation.

Jerry W. Phelan, Polyiso Marketing Manager, George Z. Pavlovich, Product Safety Manager, and Eric Ma, PUR Marketing Manager, published their study, entitled “Energy & Environmental Impact Reduction Opportunities for Existing Buildings with Low-Slope Roofs” in the United States in April. It demonstrates that substantial energy, carbon footprint and utilities cost reductions are achievable with energy-efficient roof replacement. (The term ‘carbon footprint’ is defined as the precise calculation of a product’s greenhouse gas emissions across its entire life cycle from the production of the raw material used in its manufacture, through the product’s use to its final disposal.) The study helps support and expand marketing and sales activities for the polyurethane raw materials essential in manufacturing thermal insulation.

Business activities in harmony with the social needs of humanity, respect for the ecological demands of our time, more environmentally friendly production to reduce the impact on the earth’s climate, zero-emissions buildings and plant-based energy sources – these are the ambitious targets of the comprehensive Bayer Climate Program, which has been set up by the company in recognition of its responsibility towards climate protection.

The activities of BMS employees also make a significant contribution here, and endorse the Group’s slogan “Science for a better Life”. It was for this that the BMS employees were honored with the Champions Cup in this category.

As documented in the study, a life cycle analysis of typical commercial buildings shows 10-year cumulative source energy savings of nearly 440 billion kilowatt hours combined with the prevention of 105 million metric tons of CO₂-equivalent (an emission factor that converts the emissions of various greenhouse gases from a building to equivalent amounts of CO₂). Moreover, the energy saved by adding insulation during roof replacement across all buildings analyzed is 20- to 28-times greater than the one-time energy required for making the raw materials, manufacturing, installing and transporting the insulation.

“The team are delighted to have won the Champions Cup. Our study is not just a useful tool for the legislative organs of the United States, but also provides other stakeholders with credible and transparent data demonstrating the benefits of additional insulation. The study is attached to and supports a proposed U.S. tax credit legislation of 30 % on the costs of installing prescribed levels of insulation during re-roofing or new construction,” says Jerry W. Phelan.