Ivan Vujisic, Wienerberger – Energy-efficient construction is imperative for healthy living environment

Ecological responsibility and and energy efficiency are guiding ideas at Wienerberger company, the global leader in production and sales of building material and infrastructure solutions. Company`s business operations in Serbia are in line with global standards and systemic solutions produced in the factory in Kanjiza also meet world quality standards.


What does it mean to have energy-efficient space?

- That kind of space, whether it`s a house, an apartment or some other building, should provide the desired quality of life and comfort with the least amount of energy used. Consequently, less energy required means reduced consumption of electricity and gas. Decarbonatization, which is still in development here, could lower the output of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere and help preserve the environment.
When it comes to healthy living environment, what comes to mind first are regular hygiene, cleaning and ventilation. What about other parts of healthy environment, namely, the choice of building materials and quality of construction?

- Air pollution and CO2 emissions are a huge threat to the environment. We try to produce materials with lower CO2 emission levels and use better insulation materials in order to lower the energy used for heating and cooling. The durability of the material is important as well. The longer the materials last the lower its impact on the environment.
It seems as if there is an unprecedented number of construction projects currently in Serbia. Is Serbia ready to transition to the type of construction with lower environmental impact and why should investors pick green materials?

- I think there is a slowly growing awareness in Serbia of the need for construction with low negative impact on the environment. The majority of new buildings meet minimum energy-efficient standards, shown by their energy passports, which are just a start. Also, the world-wide energy crisis has had a significant effect on raising consumer awareness of necessity for energy-efficient spaces. Still, we are visibly falling behind global standards.
How does Wienerberger achieve such excellent results in ecological responsibility and energy efficiency? What are your strongest suits?

- Above all, we respect our customers and the environment. Thinking long-term, we base our operations on decarbonization, circularity and biodiversity. Our products are completely organic as we use natural materials such as clay. I always liked the phrase “borrow pit”, because we do borrow from nature which means we have to give something back, Our products in Serbia wear an eco-label, proving we take care of the environment.
Recently you introduced brand new products to the Serbian market from your factory in Kanjiza, into which you invested over EUR 10 mil. What are your buyers reactions and what makes those products different from others in the market?

- The clay is the same, what differs is the technology. As global leaders, we employ the latest technology in our Kanjiza factory. The factory is our latest investment and we wanted to elevate it to world standards since up to 60% of its output is intended for foreign markets. New products follow global trends, emit less CO2 per square meter, they are lighter and more durable, they pollute less and are more appealing. New roof tile design made in Kanjiza is Tvist 9, whereas other older, always popular types such as Kontinental 9 were updated.
What can you tell us about plans and projects Wienerberger has in store?

- What`s unrewarding about being a market leader is that you`re going to be copied pretty quickly. We have a rule to regard a product as new for seven years after which it would require an upgrade. We always have some innovation at hand, which we usually implement seven years after our last big investment. High demand for our products this year was a surprise, and I have to apologize to our loyal customers for the times supply couldn`t meet demand even though the factory operated at full force. Nevertheless, now that the factory is operating at full capacity you can expect many new products from our company.

Wienerberger doo Kanjiža

Wienerberger

Wienerberger Building Solutions Central Balkan

Ivan Vujisic

energy efficient space

decarbonization

reducing greenhouse gas emissions

construction of residential buildings

green materials

green construction

energy passports

natural building materials

clay

Tvist 9

Kontinental 9

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