Could a new facade help make your building carbon neutral?
Climate change affects us all, and we are already feeling some of the effects here in Australia. An ozone hole above our heads, stormy and violent weather, even a fair bit of rising water – it’s no wonder that people are starting to take protecting the environment more seriously than ever.
However, there is only so much the average resident of Australia can do. A great deal of the burden is on the business and industrial sectors of the country – and we’re not just talking about cutting down on the business vehicle driving.
Commercial buildings of all shapes and sizes can contribute to climate change in one way or another: poor energy efficiency, environmentally unfriendly materials, damage to the surrounding land. However, as much damage as these buildings can bring, the right design could be the key to a cleaner, greener Australia. Could a new facade for your building be part of the drive towards carbon neutrality?
Could your building be the key for greener Australian cities?It’s time for a change
There is clearly an opportunity for business owners to reduce the impact that their business has on the environment.
Here’s the current situation: The Australian government found that commercial buildings were responsible for about 10 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions in 2009, and those levels were predicted to increase by 25 per cent from then to 2020. We’re now on the more distant side of that prediction, so that proportion of responsibility could be that much weightier.
With that in mind, there is clearly an opportunity for business owners to reduce the impact that their enterprise has on the environment – and it could be achieved through existing technologies and better design, according to a report from the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC). It explains that the vast majority of potential energy savings available to commercial buildings by 2030 are in the realm of heating and cooling. Greater efficiency in this area makes up almost two thirds of the opportunity for building managers to reduce their utility bills, as well as their impact on the environment.
The power of Pic-Perf
You might wonder what these “current technologies” that ASBEC mentions look like – is there some product out there that could eliminate two thirds of your heating and cooling needs in one fell swoop? Some kind of futuristic, science-fiction HVAC unit, for example? The reality is a little more down-to-earth, and it has a lot to do with good design.
Pic-Perf, an addition to the Atmosphere product offered by us here at Locker Group, won’t shave off two thirds of your heating needs, but it can certainly contribute to it. Because Pic-Perf acts as a sun shade for your building, as well as improving air flow and ventilation, it could help reduce the cooling requirements of your building. That’s something that should certainly be at the front of your mind as we head into the warmer spring sun.
As a result, you draw on fewer energy resources to keep your building comfortable, increasing habitability without putting pressure on the climate or your energy bills.
Pic-Perf has more than just one application.More than just green
Of course, Pic-Perf offers a great deal more than that. Not only does it block the sun, but it improves wind resistance, security and perhaps even health – the intense Australian sun being blocked from burning the inhabitants is a good thing by anyone’s measure.
But, perhaps most of all, it also improves the aesthetics of your building. Whether it’s a brand, a logo, a scene or just a pattern, Pic-Perf can contribute to the overall design of your building, making it that much more attractive to both visitors and tenants. Better for the environment, better for your wallet, better for your brand – what’s not to like?
If you’d like to find out more about Pic-Perf, or other Locker Group products, take a glance through our look book to discover a number of potential applications.
