thinking green

Green approach provides multiple benefits

Ambitious sustainability targets specifically aimed at the education sector, require carbon emissions in school buildings to be reduced by 60% from a base figure of a school building’s predicted energy use (as set out in the 2002 Building Regulations).

T

HIS MAKES energy efficiency even more of a vital concern when constructing a new school and, in

order to meet these targets, additional funding has been made available for investment in measures such as those which will reduce the demand for heating. The quickest way to achieving sustainability targets is using products during the build process which help the environment, says Simon Smith from Marley Eternit. “In terms of roofing, manufacturers of roof coverings have increasingly been focused on producing materials which are as environmentally friendly as possible and offer the best green credentials.”

Absorbing

Marley Eternit’s Ecologic tile is manufactured from approximately 50% recycled content. However, the most interesting benefit of the product is its ability to absorb and neutralise harmful Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) in the atmosphere. NOx contributes to the formation of ground level ozone – a major component of smog – and is associated with asthma and other respiratory infections, particularly in the very young which make it a very apt product for use with school

buildings, says Simon Smith. Tiles such as Ecologic are relatively new in conception and there are further environmentally friendly options for roof

the ability to absorb and neutralise harmful Nitrogen Oxides in the atmosphere

coverings available on the market,” Smith continues. “When refurbishing older school buildings, a consideration is often how best to blend the refurbishment with the original look and feel of the building and to make sure it fits in with the surrounding area. Indeed, this is often a particular requirement stated in planning conditions and eventual consent.”

Misconception

Many older school buildings feature slate as the chosen roof covering, and so on many occasions this is the material that is sought as replacement. There is a common misconception about the green credentials of natural slates however,

Comparisons of

recycled content

WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) provides a guide to the recycled content of mainstream construction products, listing dozens of product categories and hundreds of products and brands. The organisation maintains that cost-competitive options with higher recycled content may be found across a portfolio of products representing 50% or more of the value of materials used in schools or similar building (SOURCE: Choosing Construction Products, June 2008).

www.wrap.org.uk

argues Simon Smith. “Slates produced from natural sources draw on rapidly dwindling resources and only 5% of mined natural slate ends up being used. “Cheap imports from abroad are now commonly selected on UK projects as an alternative, despite the significant environmental impact of transportation over vast distances. This combination of natural source usage and the impact of long-distance sourcing vividly highlights the benefits of alternative fibre cement and interlocking slates which couple design aesthetics, product quality and cost effectiveness with real green credentials.”

www.marleyeternit.co.uk

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