Could aluminium be the wonder material of the future?
Posted on 23/11/2016
Building systems manufacturer Hueck UK is urging developers to consider aluminium when building the homes of the future.
Hueck UK’s project development director, Leon Friend says the material’s long-term benefits shouldn’t be overlooked when choosing products to incorporate into the ‘buildings of tomorrow’.
His comments follow a recent report that states ‘Smart Cities’ could save the world £14trn.
A Smart City is defined as a city that uses modern digital communications technology to monitor, manage and enhance key infrastructure and public service. This improves the experience for residents, workers and visitors alike and at the same time reduces costs and resources.
A recent report from The Global Commission on Economy and Climate found that climate-Smart Cities would spur economic growth and a better quality of life.
If national governments back these efforts, the savings on transport, buildings and waste disposal could reach up to £14trn by 2050. By 2030, those efforts would avoid the equivalent of 3.7 gigatonnes a year – more than India’s current greenhouse gas emissions.
Leon says part of creating Smart Cities is the development of sustainable, ‘future-proof’ buildings and aluminium products can help developers achieve this.
He comments: “Construction and demolition waste alone represents 32% of total UK waste so for new developments, it’s important to create a future-proof design, which specifies sustainable materials and building processes, to maximise the lifespan of the building.
“Aluminium is a sustainable construction material as it can be endlessly recycled with no change in quality. Recycled aluminium uses only 5% of the total energy needed to produce it from raw materials, making it much more environmentally friendly than PVCu and a no-brainer when it comes to decisions on what products to incorporate into a new-build.”
Aluminium is now also on a par with PVCu when it comes to energy efficiency, helping it to exceed efficiency and sustainability requirements for buildings, which Leon says will offer long-term benefits for both the building’s inhabitants and its immediate environment.
Leon continues: “Two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas by 2050 and the right choices now, in terms of planning for urban development, could improve people’s lives and fight climate change.
“We’re not saying aluminium is the only solution but its performance advantages will help us in our goal to create smarter, more sustainable cities.”