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ARLINGTON, VA., ¡ª Today, the Aluminum Association released Aluminum in Green Buildings: A Guide to Green Building Development and Certification with Aluminum Products. The new guide features information on aluminum¡¯s unique properties for use in building and construction, as well as data on the metal¡¯s life-cycle characteristics and environmental performance. The guide is available at the Association¡¯s booth #3151 during Greenbuild 2015 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. November 18 -20 and also online on the Aluminum Association¡¯s website.
The Guide is intended to assist and support aluminum end-users ¨C architects, designers and engineers ¨C in understanding how aluminum contributes to green building development and achieving certifications like Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. Key information in the Guide includes:
Aluminum¡¯s unique properties and building applications
Aluminum building products and systems that contribute to credits for LEED® v4 certification
North American aluminum¡¯s life cycle environmental performance (Environmental Product Declarations)
The North American industry¡¯s sustainability strategies, metrics and major achievements
¡°The aluminum industry is committed to advancing the sustainability efforts of its customers through the use of aluminum,¡± said Heidi Brock, President & CEO of the Aluminum Association. ¡°The Green Building Guidelines will allow the industry¡¯s building and construction end-users to make informed decisions about using one of the greenest, most innovative materials in their projects today.¡±
The Guide is based on key requirements of the current, most-commonly adopted green building certifications systems and construction codes. The Guide elaborates how those requirements can potentially be met or exceeded through the use of aluminum products and systemic aluminum solutions. The Guide incorporates the most up-to-date understanding of aluminum¡¯s technological solutions to challenges of the building and construction industries. Additionally, the results of the aluminum industry¡¯s extensive sustainability research and studies are featured as well.
Lightweight, strong and infinitely recyclable, aluminum products can help lower energy costs and carbon emissions in building and construction applications. Properly coated aluminum roofs can reflect up to 95 percent of sunlight, helping improve building energy efficiency. Aluminum framing systems and curtain walls can accommodate highly insulating glass and optimize the balanced functioning of heating and cooling. This allows for the systems to serve as the best solution for building energy efficiency improvements and ¡°net zero¡± energy performance.
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