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Sustainability
Sustainable Development
Sustainable development has become one of the buzzwords
of the last decade; It is enshrined in government and private sector
policies internationally. There are at least 250 published definitions
of which the most generally accepted is:
"Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own."
The huge variety of definitions shows that the concept is far from clear cut and the word'sustainable' is often used inappropriately, especially when it comes to describing construction products. It is important therefore to have an understanding of what is meant by sustainability and the context in which it applies to construction.
What is sustainability?
Although there is no definitive description of what makes something sustainable, it is widely accepted that there are three key areas that should be taken into account. These are the societal, economic and environmental impacts involved in the activities, products or processes in question.
With this in mind it should be understood that environmental performance alone does not represent true sustainability. However, it is an important part of the whole sustainability equation, and one where construction has a particular role to play. The concept of 'sustainable construction' therefore has a strong emphasis on environmental impacts, and within this framework, insulated panels can offer a large number of significant benefits.
Insulated Panels and Sustainable Construction
Whether or not you subscribe to the view that global warming is a manmade phenomenon, there is no question that greenhouse gases contribute to its acceleration. One of the greatest contributors to the production of CO2 is the burning of fossil fuels to create energy in order to heat, cool or run our buildings. Reducing the amount of carbon dioxide we produce by making our buildings more energy efficient is paramount in dealing with this issue.
In addition to their obvious use as a weather shield, the primary function of insulated panels is energy conservation. PIR insulated panels are designed using the highest performing and most efficient insulation; they are also capable of providing extremely high levels of air tightness. These attributes uniquely contribute to the energy efficiency of the building envelope with the potential to considerably cut CO2 emissions.
Another practical benefit of using Insulated Panels is that they can help to achieve BREEAM credits. See http://www.epic.uk.com/breeam.jsp for more information.
As fossil fuel supplies dwindle and our reliance on imported gas increases, reducing our overall demand for energy is also a major step towards increasing energy security, making locally based micro or macro generation a more feasible source of supply to meet essential demands, and increasing the potential for employment.
Refurbishment for a sustainable future
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| Upgrading our existing building stock is an essential element of protecting the environment, and it also has the potential to create large numbers of jobs. Research published by Caleb Management Services in February 2009 examined the issues surrounding energy efficiency in non-domestic refurbishment. It concluded that refurbishing all existing non-domestic building stock in the UK alone by 2022 to Energy Performance Certificate level 'C' could achieve the following outcomes: |
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CO2 savings - Annualised saving of 4.74M tons CO2-eq by 2022 equivalent to 2% of the reduction needed to achieve the 2022 CCC non-traded carbon target. |
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Depending on the scheduling of work between 50,000 and 75,000 long-term jobs could be created or retained within the construction sector. |
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Energy Cost Savings of £5.65 billion per year in 2022 with typical payback in less than 5 years (total energy cost saving of over £40 billion between 2010 and 2022). |
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Energy Security - primary energy savings of 24,000 GWh per annum - equivalent to 1.25% of total UK primary energy requirements in 2022. |
Visit the News page to see more details of the Caleb Report:9
http://www.epic.uk.com/news_details.jsp?newsID=16
Insulated Panels are particularly well suited to refurbishment projects: whether over cladding or replacing existing elements. They are low weight, so have minimal impact on existing structures, and their effectiveness ensures a rapid simple payback on the original investment with immediate potential savings on energy bills.
A wide range of colours and profiles also lifts the appearance of tired older buildings, improving the built environment for those living and working in it.
For more information about insulated panels in refurbishment visit:
http://www.epic.uk.com/refurbishment.jsp |
To summarise
Whilst it is not accurate to state categorically that any generic construction product is 'sustainable', insulated panels certainly have a significant contribution to make towards an ethos of sustainable construction, not purely from an environmental point of view, but also with benefits to be found in the economic and societal aspects too. Below is a simple summary of some of those key benefits.
Refurbishment for a sustainable future
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Maximum energy conservation for least thickness and weight |
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Low weight leads to lower levels of supporting steelwork or building framework |
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Insulation performance is built-in and guaranteed for the life of the panel |
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Panel-to-panel joints are factory engineered for tightness and low air leakage. (Air leakage is a major factor in the energy loss from buildings.) |
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Panel manufacturers present a range of details and accessories so that the panel system as a whole contributes to the energy conservation equation.
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Panels are delivered to site as single-piece units, reducing the number of deliveries to site, and enabling construction times to be reduced by up to 60%, with resultant savings of fuel, power, energy, water and waste. |
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Refurbishment using insulated panels can save energy, improve existing stock and create jobs. |
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Insulated panels are extremely durable, leading to long term performance and reducing the need for replacement, thereby saving resources and energy over time. |
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Economic benefits
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Significant numbers of jobs can be created, both directly and in associated industries. |
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Increased energy efficiency in buildings brings immediate potential savings for end users, which carry on long term. |
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Industry growth as the requirement for energy efficient buildings increases, both in the new build and refurbishment markets. |
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Reducing reliance on imported energy by reducing demand. |
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Societal benefits:
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Help in combating the effects of global warming |
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Potential to increase energy security |
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Employment |
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Healthier, more appealing and more comfortable buildings |
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EPIC members recognise their responsibilities in working towards a sustainable future and demonstrate excellent performance in minimising the environmental impact of their manufacturing processes and maximising the environmental benefits of their products, contributing to the well being of the communities they operate in and conducting their business in an economically viable manner.
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PIR/PUR panels and the industry
play a crucial role in improving the environmental performance
of buildings, delivering a sustainable construction both now
and for the future. |
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Also in this section:
Building regulations | Air
tightness testing |
EPIC
guide to building regulations | Disposal and end of life treatment |
