Build tomorrow with carbon-neutral silicones for facades | Dow

Build tomorrow with carbon-neutral silicones for facades | Dow
Photo source
www.dow.com

Date: 14 July 2022

Dow’s Carbon-Neutrality Program offers silicones for structural glazing, insulating glazing and weatherproofing

Environmental responsibility

The construction industry is moving toward an environment of ECOllaboration, meaning that designers and constructors are together embracing the urgent need to reduce embodied carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, by addressing this aspect of sustainability in a more holistic way. In line with this need, Dow has introduced carbon-neutral silicones for specific high performance building applications, to support the push from designers, architects and property developers to create lower carbon buildings and help facilitate industry incentives such as green building standardization. Dow’s Silicone Solutions help enable the façade design intent of the architect in a sustainable way, with enhanced energy and material efficiency whilst offering a possibility of end-of-life disassembly.

Energy efficiency

Sustainable design requires a combination of engineering and assessment of system performance. For example, the energy efficiency of a building envelope will greatly influence operational carbon output during the lifetime of a building. It is here that the performance features of Dow’s Silicone Solutions demonstrate a proven value and can help to enhance systems within a facade and extend a building’s service life.

Build tomorrow with carbon-neutral silicones for facades | Dow

Material efficiency

Another area for consideration in sustainable design is material efficiency, which is gaining a lot of credence during the design process. The obvious step is to try to build clever by avoiding using materials or reducing material usage in systems, such as aluminium in a façade, and also to select materials that offer a low embodied carbon, such as carbon-neutral silicone sealing and bonding solutions.

Reuse and recycle

For a truly sustainable design, material end of life consideration is likewise needed. Can the selected building materials be disassembled and reused – all before reuse or recycling? The use of silicone structural glazing facilitates disassembly of bonded systems when compared to harder thin adhesives. The silicone bead is not detrimental to a reuse of the substrate - metal or frame - as it can remain in place and be used as a basis for a new bonded assembly.

Trusted assessment

The accountability of a company’s practices to reduce carbon emissions of products and processes can be confusing. Dow have appointed an independent third party who will assess and measure their efforts within an organized framework, according to the PAS 2060 verified carbon neutrality standard. The life cycle analysis documentation (LCA) for Dow’s carbonneutral silicones created will be evaluated as well as the way Dow manages their own internal supply chain offsets (also referred to as insets). The major benefit of PAS 2060 verification is that it continuously requires a reduction in carbon emissions, which are independently validated.

For further information about the Dow Carbon-Neutrality Program and how to apply, please visit dow.com/carbonneutralsilicones.

600450 Build tomorrow with carbon-neutral silicones for facades | Dow glassonweb.com

Others also read

Glaston has received technology and equipment orders from Regency Glass, a well-known producer of high-quality IGUs in the UK.
Glas Trösch glass solutions played a key role in the energy-efficient refurbishment of the 1970s Minoteries housing complex in Geneva.
Industry and environmental organisations jointly call for measures to improve recycling in the future End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation
Maintaining the performance of insulating glass units over time is key to energy efficiency. Discover how Sparklike technology helps monitor and manage IGU degradation effectively.
Fenzi Group’s range of sealants specifically formulated for high-performance IG Units ensures maximum durability, energy efficiency, and long-term reliability.
In this interview for AEC Business, Aarni Heiskanen speaks with Jochen Regenauer of Kuraray about how innovative glass solutions are making building façades more sustainable and efficient.

Add new comment

From industry

2200 W. Salzburg Rd.
Auburn , MI 48611
United States

Polígono Industrial El Bayo, parcela I, 19
24492 Cubillos del Sil León
Spain

Ottergemsesteenweg 707-Zuid
9000 Ghent
Belgium