Tag: Green Buildings

Color Planet Earth Happy With Green Buildings

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Warmest month on record. Years of drought. Record-breaking floods. Mudslides and landslides Category Five hurricanes. Named winter storms and blizzards that cut a paralyzing swath of snow and freezing temperatures through entire regions. No matter what the season, it seems as though the weather has a catastrophe to match it. As even skeptics become more aware that climate change is a reality we must address, everyone wants to know how we can adapt our lifestyles to counter the threat posed by this looming crisis. Because we are largely indoor beings, we recognize that we must alter our buildings to be more sustainable if we have hopes of rescuing the environment from the perils that climate change can cause.

Environmental responsibility strives to balance the fact that in industrialized countries, buildings account for 40% of the energy that’s used by those nations. Our buildings don’t just dominate the skylines; if they are not in harmony with environmental measures, they also determine whether or not we are hurting our world. Green buildings are a way to balance that excess with deliberate ways of using materials responsibly so that the places where we work and live pose less of a threat to the planet that we all depend upon for life.

Green BuildingsGREEN BUILDINGS AND THE DANPAL MOTTO

Danpal is more than a leader in the building industry. We’re also a partner in the sustainability movement. Our motto, Global Vision, Local Focus, is an acknowledgment that in order to provide quality materials for our customers, we must create products that support sustainability. Households all over the globe have adopted sustainable measures to support energy efficiency. At Danpal, we do the same.

RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AS A WAY OF LIFE

This generation knows that if we fail to protect the planet, we run the risk of having an environment that will be radically different from what we know. Resource efficiency builds upon that theme by encouraging the use of natural, renewable, and recyclable materials. Using materials that can be transported from local sites rather than long-distance destinations is another way of practicing the resource efficiency that supports the green buildings way of life.

HOW RESPONSIBLE PRACTICES PROMOTE GREEN BUILDINGS

At Danpal, we live by our motto and we’re proud of the role we’ve played, thanks to the products that we create, in supporting the green building movement. We comply with federal regulations and building codes that outline specific rules to safeguard the environment. We are all engaged in a vital quest to keep the planet healthy, whether we’re a corporate entity or an individual. The standards that determine whether a structure can be regarded as a green building include an awareness of its Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Materials that emit minimally or no carcinogens or chemicals, are moisture-resistant, use non-toxic cleaning substances, and are installed with a minimum of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) support IAQ. Cleaning materials have traditionally been violators of these precepts, but today, it’s easy to find environmentally responsible, sustainable cleaning products that do the job without adding more toxic substances to the ecology.

Green buildings are the goal for the future of construction

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In today’s environmentally conscious society, green isn’t just a color, it’s a message and a commitment. Companies are proud to boast of their ecological practices. Politicians include climate issues in their campaign promises and many even tackle the controversial topic of greenhouse gas emissions and what industrial societies must do to pollute less. Celebrities use their fame to promote sustainable practices. Children in school are taught to take care of the planet. We realize that our soil, our waterways and our air are all fragile partners in the circle of life in which we are all connected. Our planet has endured much in the way of pollution but thanks to modern-day awareness, people from all walks of life are making a commitment to remember our obligation to Planet Earth. We have all made a promise to “go green.”

That promise also extends to the building industry. As environmental consciousness increased, the commercial world recognized that we have a part to play in this venture. Danpal has always operated under the slogan Global Mission, Local Focus, so for us, paying attention to the holistic practices that help the planet is nothing new. For us, green buildings are the only way to build.

GREEN BUILDINGSRESOURCE EFFICIENCY AS PART OF THE GREEN BUILDING LIFESTYLE

Using natural materials, renewable materials, and natural materials is how we practice resource efficiency. In order to be efficient with our resources, we should use products that are locally available, refurbished, or salvaged. Packaging is an important part of resource efficiency. Using products that are packed with materials that are reusable or recyclable defines our lifestyle as one of better stewardship of the planet.

In order to be a truly green building, it must be the product of a process which pays close attention to every segment of the construction process and the materials that are used. That means that the extraction, fabrication, processing, transportation, installation, recycling, reuse and disposal of the materials used in construction must support a philosophy of sustainability.

IDENTIFYING A GREEN BUILDING

One way of identifying whether or not a building is green is to determine it’s Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). By using materials that emit few or no carcinogens or chemicals, that are non-toxic and resistant to moisture and can be installed with minimal volatile organic compounds (VOC), IAQ is supported and this helps to identify a green building.

Water is another resource which is part of the green building identification process. Using products that reduce the consumption of water helps in the conservation of this natural resource which we all depend upon, but which is in short supply in far too many parts of the world.

The global economy also factors into the identification of a green building. Materials used in the construction of green buildings should be affordable so that they can be universally accessible.

Danpal is an eager participant in this crusade for resource efficiency. We obey federal regulations and building codes that are designed to make sure that products adhere to ecologically sound practices.

SELECTING MATERIALS FOR GREEN BUILDINGS

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The twenty-first century has seen the growing prominence of the sustainability movement advance to the point where lifestyles have dramatically changed. We make decisions on the foods we purchase, vacations that we take, and the buildings where we live based on how the environment is affected by what we do. As the movement has progressed, we now pay close attention to the use of materials and products in the construction of green buildings. We know the advantages of using green building materials. We benefit from the energy conservation, the reduction in maintenance costs, the improved productivity and health of the building occupants; the lower cost of changing space configurations; and an increased flexibility in design. Choosing the right materials is a straightforward process that puts the planet first. By doing that, we also support our own wellbeing.

THE COMPOSITION OF GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS

Using green building materials and products has a multifaceted role in protecting the environment by promoting the conservation of nonrenewable resources. Another benefit is the reduction of the environmental impact that’s associated with the extraction, transport, fabrication, processing, installation, reuse, recycling and disposal of building materials. Because green building materials are made out of renewable resources, they promote environmental responsibility, especially as we consider their impact over the life span of the product.


SELECTION CRITERIA FOR GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS

Resource-efficient materials

  • are made of recycled content
  • come from natural and renewable materials
  • are manufactured with resource-efficient processes
  • are made from locally available materials and components
  • use materials that are salvaged; refurbished; reusable; recyclable
  • are packaged responsibly

Energy efficiency is maximized

  • by using materials that help reduce the consumption of energy in buildings and facilities

Indoor air quality is enhanced by using materials that

  • emit few or no carcinogens
  • release minimal chemicals
  • are installed with minimal VOC-producing compounds
  • are resistant to moisture
  • require simple, non-toxic cleaning
  • promote healthy indoor air quality

Other criteria include the affordability of the material and its role in water conservation.

green buildingsSELECTING GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS

After establishing project-specific environmental goals, the environmentally-minded consumer can rely on research, evaluation and selection to choose green building materials. Research includes collecting all available technical data to be evaluated so that you can be sure you’re identifying all options. Evaluation consists of confirming the technical information and, where there are gaps, finding the missing information. When selecting the products to be used, an evaluation matrix is needed to score the project-specific environmental criteria. The product with the best environmental attributes will be identified by the total score of the individual products.

DANPAL’S COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY AND GREEN BUILDING SELECTION

As a company, Danpal has remained committed to the principles of sustainability throughout our existence. With the motto of Global Vision, Local Focus, we reinforce our practices by adhering to the policy that what we produce must not harm the planet or the people who live upon it. That’s a lofty goal but we feel that it’s also a practical one. Taking care of the environment is a way to take care of ourselves as well, because what affects the planet ultimately affects each of us. Our natural resources must be protected if they are going to continue to sustain us. We cannot live without water that is clean and drinkable, air that we can breathe, and soil that can grow food for us to eat. The buildings that we design and construct can play a harmonious role in the overall sustainability of this planet that is home to us all.

Green Buildings Go Global

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As more and more countries commit their resources to sustainable practices, architects are spearheading the quest to design and build more green buildings. There has never been a time like this, when concern for the environment has sparked a global consensus that almost every aspect of our lives has an impact upon the planet. In some ways, this ecological consciousness is merely the logical extension of the philosophy that a building ought to fit into its structural environment. Architects have an innate sense of where buildings belong and how they can best blend with their landscape. Now that we are engaged in a sustainable way of life, our determination to build more green buildings is a thriving mindset for today’s society.

Danpal’s Natural Light Environments Make Green Buildings Greener

For most of the time that humans have occupied the planet, people built structures that depended upon artificial forms of light. Whatever form of light our most ancient ancestors could use provided minimal illumination. When electricity became the standard means of lighting, it was a great advance: people could see much better without straining their eyes. But artificial lighting, despite its advantages, has drawbacks. It was when Danpal began pioneering the concept of daylighting architecture that the building industry advanced to the point where humanity’s first form of illumination—the sun—could be harnessed to provide natural light indoors. Now, people who live and work in buildings where natural light is incorporated into the design can benefit from this remarkable innovation. People who spend more time in natural light have greater productivity, a more optimistic frame of mind, and a better mood. Green buildings which make use of natural daylight environments are on the cutting edge of a dynamic advance in holistic architecture.

green buildingsGreen Buildings Save Us Money

As we make more effort to match our practices with the needs of the planet, we are making a pleasant discovery: sustainability lets us save money in the long run. Our daylighting architecture actually requires minimal maintenance. With the control that it provides over the amount of energy that we consume, we benefit from a substantial life cycle cost savings. Danpal is known for the ready-to-install systems that we’ve developed and these too, reduce the amount of on-site labor time that is needed to put a Danpal system into place.

Green Buildings Across The Globe

From London to Copenhagen to Hanoi, countries are investing in green buildings. For Denmark, it was the opportunity to turn a portion of a waste treatment facility into a ski slope. In Hanoi, a new urban district is being created that will benefit 20,000 people by harnessing the wind and the sun to support comfortable living conditions. There will be a linear green corridor incorporating low-rise, pedestrian-friendly residential neighborhoods. In London, the tallest building in the city will feature a transparent atrium space that will be accessible from all directions at street level. The atrium’s landscaped interior will be opened toward the southern sun so that pedestrians will enjoy a relaxing oasis in the midst of urban space.

Green buildings are an exciting advance in architecture that brings us into a future filled with sustainable possibilities!

Green Buildings are Building a Better, Healthier World

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Green building design has become an integral factor in contemporary architecture. As our society has incorporated the concept of sustainability into our everyday lives, we have come to expect our buildings to do the same. Green buildings are winning fans everywhere because they are constructed upon a foundation that includes energy conservation, lower maintenance costs, greater flexibility in design, less expense in configuring space, and improved health and productivity for the occupants of the building. By considering its effect on the planet and the people, a green building is able to build a better community.

Why Green Buildings Are Making A Difference

In the past, when the environmental movement got underway, buildings were not a primary factor in the philosophy of adopting a greener lifestyle. But, as we began to realize that the use of nonrenewable resources was having a negative effect on our environment, we started to explore our ecological options. A 1995 study by Roodman and Lenssen revealed that three billion tons of raw materials are used annually for building and construction activities all over the world; that amounts to 40% of total global usage. Statistics like that led everyone to realize that when we’re trying to save the planet from the harm that human activity causes, we can no longer leave buildings out of the solution.

Green BuildingWhat Are Green Building Materials?

Green building materials are environmentally responsible; that’s why they’re made of renewable resources. Green building materials take into consideration the extraction, transport, processing, fabrication, installation, reuse, recycling, and disposal of the products that are used in the construction. Instead of designing and constructing a structure that disregards its own potentially massive carbon footprint, green building materials are selected on the basis of specific criteria.

Resource And Energy Efficiency Are Green Building Trademarks

Resource efficiency relies upon the usage of recycled content, natural and renewable materials, products that are manufactured with resource-efficient processes, materials and components that are available locally, products that have been salvaged or refurbished, and packaging materials that are reusable and recyclable. The energy efficiency comes into play by maximizing the use of materials, components, and systems that aid in the reduction of energy consumption in buildings.

Other Key Factors In Green Building Materials

  • Indoor Air Quality
    Indoor Air Quality or IAQ can be enhanced with the usage of materials that emit minimal or no carcinogens or chemical emissions. These materials are installed with minimal VOC-producing compounds. They’re moisture resistant. Materials that use non-toxic cleaning materials are the ones that promote healthy IAQ.
  • Affordability
    The green building material bandwagon also promotes affordability in the products that used, as part of the overall economic health of our society and our planet.
  • Conservation of Water
    We shouldn’t take water for granted. Countries which are dealing with droughts know this, and the rest of us need to take it to heart. By using products that help reduce the consumption of water, we are conserving one of our most vital natural resources.

Making the world a better, healthier place, one building at a time, is part of our company’s motto: Global Vision, Local Focus.

Green Buildings by Danpal Support Sustainability

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Today’s architect can no longer be content merely to design green buildings for clients. Architecture has become a crucial component in the goal to keep the planet healthy; the more we learn about our environment, the more we realize that everything we do has a consequence. In order to keep those consequences holistic, architects have taken on the responsibility of designing buildings that support sustainability. Buildings in the developed world, because they are so sophisticated and so technologically advanced, account for 40% of the primary energy usage in their countries. At the same time, building materials may account for a significant proportion of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. It might seem as though the goal to build in a manner that supports our environment might be too difficult. But Danpal has taken up the challenge and, by investing in the research and development that looks to the future, we are helping architects build for a better, greener world.

In order to bring all these factors into balance so that each newly designed and constructed building conforms to federal standards, architects have expanded their professional sense of responsibility. They’re doing their part, and that’s why, at Danpal, we’re doing our part to promote the construction of green buildings.

GREEN BUILDINGSDANPAL AND ARCHITECTURE: A GREAT GREEN PARTNERSHIP

Danpal’s slogan is Global Vision, Local Focus. With that motto in mind, we’ve been able to focus upon the ways that the overall mission of our company impacts the daily lives of our customers. Danpal is widely respected in the building industry for the sustainable characteristics of our innovative projects all over the world. With a business presence on five continents, Danpal is firmly committed to the interconnected nature of our planet. That requires us to manufacture building materials that are both strong and sustainable: strong, because a building must be able to stand up to the adverse elements of nature; and sustainable because the life of a building extends through generations for whom Planet Earth is also their home.

GREEN BUILDINGS AND DAYLIGHT ARCHITECTURE

A transformative revolution in architecture has taken place and Danpal is proud to be a part of it. As pioneers in the concept of daylight architecture, Danpal recognizes that one of the best ways to promote the environment and its benefits is to include it in our buildings. We are a global leader in the designing and manufacturing of daylight systems that have high thermal insulation and mechanical resistance. We have enabled architects to harness one of the planet’s most holistic resources—natural light—in a cost-effective manner that is environmentally responsible.

SUSTAINABILITY AND EFFICIENCY: HOW DANPAL SUPPORTS GREEN BUILDINGS

On-site labor hours are reduced thanks to Danpal’s popular ready-to-install systems for facades, cladding, roofing, skylights and shading applications. This feature is especially useful for installations in open environments or in conditions that are problematic. Saving time and saving money are always popular when they’re made possible by a company like Danpal, which is known for its high-quality products. Doing both in a manner that supports sustainability is the right thing to do for our planet.

Green Buildings For A Blue Planet

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Going Green on Planet Earth

The twenty-first century has seen a remarkable revolution in color: our blue planet has turned a whole lot greener over the recent decades. The fight to keep our air and water cleaner, our energy use efficient, and our living habits sustainable has completely changed our outlook on everything from the bags we use to do our grocery shopping (reusable rather than plastic) to the foods that we purchase (locally grown). Is it any wonder that, as we’ve altered where we shop and how we eat and what we drive, our buildings would also reflect the new standards in sustainability?

Why Green Buildings Make a Better Planet

Every year, during typical building and construction activities, three billion tons of raw materials are consumed. That’s a good reason for all of us in the industry, as well as the consumers who are buying homes and buildings, to do our utmost to see that our construction is holistic rather than harmful. We’re at a benevolent place in our society where we now expect our buildings to meet the same standards that we’ve set for ourselves. With building standards that support the needs of the environment, we are reaching a healthy balance. Green buildings provide reduced maintenance costs, support energy conservation, offer an enhanced design flexibility, and deliver a healthier workspace and living space for the people inside.

Selection Criteria for Green Building Materials
Resource efficiency means using:

Recycled content
Natural and renewable materials
Products manufactured with resource-efficient processes
Materials and components that are locally available, refurbished, or salvaged
Package materials that are recyclable or reusable

Indoor Air Quality (IAO) is enhanced by using materials that:Emit few or no carcinogens

Are installed with minimal VOC-producing components
Are moisture-resistant
Enhance air quality
Promote water conservation
Are affordable

Green BuildingsThe Results of Creating Green Buildings

Sustainability isn’t just a trend, it’s a way of life. Green building practices have adopted this philosophy by employing various strategies that relate to the design, construction, and operation of building products. By using green building materials and products, we promote the conservation of nonrenewable resources that are currently dwindling. The green building philosophy helps to reduce the environmental impact that’s associated with the extraction, transportation, processing, fabrication, installation, re-using, recycling, and disposal of building materials.

How Danpal Promotes Green Buildings

Danpal has dedicated itself to the preservation of the planet through its emphasis on developing products that are meet demanding standards of quality and sustainability. Through its leadership in daylight architecture, Danpal has become a global leader in the design and manufacture of daylight systems that exhibit high thermal insulation properties and mechanical resistance. Our company can harness natural resources in a manner that is both cost effective and environmentally responsible. Danpal has partnered with the Agency for Economic Development and Energy Control (ADEME) and the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). All Danpal products, which are manufactured according to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, require simple maintenance using high pressure cleaning with fresh water and minimal soap or detergent.

When you select Danpal products, you’re making the environmentally smart decision.