Three approaches for sustainable facade design by Dami Babalola

More and more businesses in the construction industry are committing to greener build practices. This is inspiring architects to consider new approaches to specification.

Powder coatings are an excellent choice when sustainability is a consideration. Solvent free, they do not contain VOCs or Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). Axalta’s Alesta? SD range (the SD stands for Super Durable) offers a wide choice of colours and finishes with excellent durability. With up to a 25-year warranty, these coatings are manufactured to look better for longer.

Passive cooling

Urban areas experience higher temperatures than their surrounding rural environments, a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect.

Causes include the concentration of building materials that absorb and store heat, as well as large numbers of humans generating energy. With elevated temperatures, we turn to air conditioning and fans to cool down our surroundings, generating more energy.

The Alesta? SD Polar range of powder coatings can combat the impact of urban heat island effect. By enhancing infrared reflection, they reduce the temperature of the coated facade which means less heat passes into the building and mechanical stress on the metal is reduced.

The circular economy

Industrial processes remain a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. I spoke to David Hurst, Project Director at Darling Associates, recently to learn more about sustainable facade design. He highlights the need for a more circular approach to manufacturing.

“Taking apart the original components of a product and reusing them – in either the same or a completely different product – has environmental benefits,” he says. “Building fa?ades represent an interesting opportunity. Often designed for only 20 to 30 years, they typically reach obsolescence well before the building is demolished and replaced.”

Reducing embodied carbon

Of the 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions attributed to buildings, 11% stems from materials and construction (the other 28% is from operational emissions).1 One of our most ambitious innovations to date is the development of a new bio-based powder coating system. The new formulation in part uses renewable raw materials to create a bio-resin that mixes with standard resin to produce a bio-based powder coating that offers less CO2 emissions than Axalta’s standard powder coatings.

Due by early 2024, its launch will signify a leap forward in sustainable coatings without compromising on quality and performance.

?Alesta? SD and LEED? certification

LEED? certification is the world’s most widely adopted green building certification. Our seminar highlights the business benefits of LEED and shows how Alesta? SD Powder Coatings can contribute to LEED certification on your next project. To book a seminar, sign up here.

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Source: 1) World Green Building Council