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Green buildings on the rise

As the world grapples with the effects of climate change, sustainable buildings are an important part of the solution. Whether residential homes, offices, hospitals or schools: modern, smart buildings not only make life easier, they also contribute to a greener future.

Energy
Renewables
Green buildings
Article

Jul 10, 2025

Investing in the future

Green buildings mean a lot more than green facades and energy-efficient insulation. They require a myriad of high-tech solutions to work together as a system. A driving force here is the growing interest of developers and investors in ESG-compliant real estate.

Do you know the “Pixel Building” in Melbourne which was completed in 2010? It’s the world's first carbon-neutral office building. You may also be familiar with "The Edge" in Amsterdam, a futuristic office building that uses solar panels, rainwater harvesting and smart design to achieve net-zero energy consumption.

Berlin's modern main train station, building on the left side is known as the Cube
Berlin's modern main train station, building on the left side is known as the Cube
Berlin's modern main train station, building on the left side is known as the Cube

“The Cube” in Berlin, the world's first building made of carbon concrete, is another example of a truly smart and fully digitalized building. Under the slogan "Tracking Everything", over 3,700 sensors supply the central electronic screen, an AI system platform, with information. The system can regulate heating, cooling and ventilation output based on the number of people detected.

The "world’s most sustainable building" is, however, located in China: the "Shanghai Tower". Being the tallest LEED-certified building in the world, it incorporates some 47 green technologies with various benefits, including energy savings of more than 50 percent. Here too, modern sensor systems play a key role.

Sensors are the building’s nervous system

A key component of a green building is its sensor system, continuously collecting, analyzing and exchanging data from the building's environment regarding operation and use of the building. Sensors, actuators and control units are interconnected in all areas and can be compared to a human nervous system that triggers certain reactions in direct response to signals.

For example, sensors monitor the number of people in a specific room and how they move, a microcontroller analyzes the data and tells the building management system to adjust lighting, ventilation and temperature accordingly. Energy consumption is thus linked to actual demand and occupancy. We provide various types of sensors that enable this kind of "intuitive sensing", e.g. radar sensors, CO2 sensors, pressure sensors and acoustic sensors.

Shanghai tower
Shanghai tower
Shanghai tower

Smart ways to cool space

Woman lying on couch with Air Condition in living room
Woman lying on couch with Air Condition in living room
Woman lying on couch with Air Condition in living room

Did you know that nearly 20 percent of the world's total energy consumption is used to cool buildings? In fact, the use of air conditioners and electric fans already accounts for about a fifth of the total electricity in buildings around the world – or 10 percent of all global electricity consumption1. As global temperatures rise, demand for cooling in particular is on the increase. Over the next three decades the use of air conditioning will soar and will become one of the main drivers of global electricity demand. The IEA has identified high-efficiency air conditioners as one of three key factors in limiting this consumption. And health is another important aspect: Clean air is very important, especially in offices, schools and hospitals.

An intelligent air conditioner equipped with Infineon's radar, acoustic or environmental sensors are a very innovative way to realize benefits in terms of efficiency, health and comfort. Sensors let the air conditioning system 'see', 'hear' and 'feel' its environment so that it can adapt its performance to meet actual needs. The intelligent air conditioner modifies fan speed and swing scope depending on the number and location of people in the room (targeted cooling). It also measures the temperature, CO2 concentration and air quality and supplies the right amount of fresh, cool air. Advanced microelectronics thus increase well-being and significantly reduce energy consumption.

Pure, fresh air – just as much as you need

Ventilation is a key function of any air conditioner, making a built-in CO2 sensor a real advantage. The sensor measures the CO2 concentration in the room and adjusts ventilation accordingly (demand-controlled ventilation). The room is supplied with a calculated amount of fresh air – as much as necessary. The sensor can also operate independently, signaling when it's time to open a window and let in fresh outside air. This ensures healthy air quality for example for employees, students and patients, and reduces the need for heating and cooling. Did you know? A ventilation system with an environmental sensor can reduce energy consumption by up to 55 percent. The effect is even greater when combined with smart thermostats and other building automation systems.

image of an energy storage system
image of an energy storage system
image of an energy storage system

Did you know?

Infineon's CO2 sensor (XENSIV™ PAS CO2) recently met the performance requirements defined by the internationally recognized green building certifications WELL and LEED. The sensor contributes to eleven features (e.g. optimized energy performance) that help buildings earn their certification.

NEWS: Infineon’s XENSIV™ PAS CO2 meets the performance criteria of internationally recognized WELL and LEED green building standards

Powered by nature

Efficient power and heat generation from renewable energy sources is another key lever in reducing the carbon footprint of buildings. This includes technologies like photovoltaics and heat pumps. Let’s look at this in more detail.

Photovoltaics

Major buildings, such as shopping centers or office buildings, typically have large roofs that can be used for solar panels. The challenge is to capture as much solar energy as possible and to deliver or store it without loss. Infineon provides the crucial innovative and reliable microelectronics for the inverter, such as SiC power components and gate drivers complemented by control, sensor and connectivity solutions. These components ensure that solar energy can be harnessed, converted and stored reliably and efficiently. In 2023, Infineon products were installed into over 2.9 million new solar systems, with the number expected to grow in the coming years. 

Infineon and SolarEdge sign multi-year supplier capacity reservation agreement to foster green energy solutions

Solar power plant and romantic sky at sunset
Solar power plant and romantic sky at sunset
Solar power plant and romantic sky at sunset
Heat pump outside in the garden
Heat pump outside in the garden
Heat pump outside in the garden
Heat pumps

Efficiency is also key for heat pumps. Their magic lies in the ability to use existing heat from the environment instead of generating it. They transfer stored thermal energy from soil, ground water and air into buildings. This approach means heat pumps consume less power than they ultimately deliver – a positive energy balance. Combined with energy storage systems, heat pumps can also absorb fluctuations in electricity generation from renewables. In addition to semiconductor solutions for renewable power plants and energy storage systems, Infineon also offer everything that is needed to develop smart and efficient heat pumps, including power modules, gate drivers and controllers and even connectivity.

According to the IEA "Net Zero Emissions by 2050" scenario, the number of heat pumps installed globally will reach around 600 million in 2030.

More about residential heat pumps

Condition monitoring and predictive maintenance: Avoiding inefficiencies

Fix problems before they happen: Preventing equipment and system failures such as a faulty elevator or a malfunctioning air-conditioner is essential to energy-efficient building operations. Green buildings therefore need ways to monitor the status of their applications and equipment (condition monitoring) in order to predict failures before they occur and to conduct predictive maintenance. Sensors placed inside or outside a device or room collect data reflecting the operating status. The data are then analyzed, for example, in an exact digital twin of a physical device or of the environment.

Electronic engineers installs Air Condition on rooftop
Electronic engineers installs Air Condition on rooftop
Electronic engineers installs Air Condition on rooftop

This lets sensors monitor the condition of heating, ventilation and cooling equipment (HVAC), revealing deviations from normal values that indicate reduced performance, increased power consumption or equipment failure. For instance, in an HVAC system, Infineon's air pressure sensor can detect reduced airflow resulting from a clogged filter, the magnetic current sensor can indicate motor failure and our microphone sensor can detect noise anomalies in the compressor.

And air conditioning is just one example of sensor-driven condition monitoring and predictive maintenance. Elevators, valves and lighting are other critical areas where semiconductor-based systems and advanced software can provide seamless maintenance and ensure trouble-free, highly efficient building applications. 

Power over Ethernet makes buildings greener

Rainbow ethernet Cables in Hub
Rainbow ethernet Cables in Hub
Rainbow ethernet Cables in Hub

A high-performance information transfer at high bandwidths is among the most important factors for modern buildings, e.g. offices. IP-based networks (Ethernet) are widely used because they are easy to install and maintain and they integrate well with existing infrastructure. However, Ethernet has one drawback: Its power supply requires separate cable connections.

The introduction and evolution of the Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard helps overcome this problem for devices such as IP phones, conferencing systems and Wi-Fi access points, increasing energy efficiency. Infineon has a long history of power supply expertise and offers a highly reliable and efficient MOSFET portfolio for powering PoE designs.

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Sources:

[1] IEA (May 2018): The Future of Cooling