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Aluminium windows are easily recyclable
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The design life of aluminium windows is accepted at 45 years
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Aluminium can offer the solution to sustainability concerns
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Commercial windows, today, need to perform a myriad of functions: be environmentally friendly, provide security and exceptional weather performance, as well as be energy efficient.
There is a raft of legislation to deal with each element of these demands: BS 7950, Secured by Design, BS 6375, U-value calculations, WER’s (Window Energy Ratings), Ecohomes grading.
The issue that is rising to the top of the debate is that of sustainability and the environment. Life-cycle analysis and cradle-to-the-grave statistics are in demand. However, like all new market demands, the solutions can be erroneous until they settle through debate and accurate normalised methodologies. Currently, material analysis can be subject to misleading information and incorrect materials may be selected due to their claims of environmental friendliness.
In this debate, aluminium windows do have an inherent advantage because of the value of aluminium, therefore, a long established, vital recycling industry has developed. Aluminium is one of the best known recyclable materials because of its high scrap value. It is, therefore, not surprising that the systems in place and the statistics necessary to give true environmental impact figures are beyond that of other materials. In today’s market place this industry now has other benefits; that of providing a sustainable cradle-to-cradle material with statistics to back it up.
The fact that 100% of aluminium can be recycled at the end of its design life contributes significantly to reducing primary extraction demands. Couple this with only 5% of the original energy required from primary extraction being required at re-smelting. Because aluminium continues to hold the original embodied energy, it is a resource that can be called upon again and again. Therefore, the high-energy requirements initially need to be off-set against the unique cradle-to-cradle properties of aluminium; current cradle-to-the-grave analysis does not take this into account.
The European Aluminium Association commissioned a report co-ordinated and compiled by the world renowned Delft University, which took six buildings throughout Europe that were about to be demolished, working with demolition companies throughout Europe. In the UK, Wembley Stadium was used. Careful demolishing plans were implemented and a staggering 95% of the aluminium within Wembley was recycled – this equated to some 180 tonnes.
The design life of aluminium windows is accepted at 45 years. However, with correct maintenance, this can be longer. The European Aluminium Association has calculated that the average life span of aluminium in building is 50 years.
Therefore, with a well-established valuable cradle-to-cradle material, aluminium really does offer the solution to today’s serious sustainability concerns.
Visit www.comar-alu.co.uk for more information.
