SELECTING EXTERIOR CLADDING MATERIALS FOR THE SUSTAINABLE HOME

摘要

Every year, a whopping 37 percent of all energy used in the UK goes into building and servicing our homes, so it is hardly surprising that environmental sustainability now features high on the agenda for any party actively involved in the house building industry or its regulation. While the efforts being made to conserve energy used for everyday activities are well known and thoroughly publicised, in the background there is a quiet revolution taking place in the selection and use of construction materials designed to reduce environmental impact. Buildings can play a vital part in the effort to tackle global warming, and as building regulations become ever more restrictive, architects, designers, specifiers and building professionals have much to gain from understanding the alternatives available to them and the consequences of their choices. Pierre Castien, General Sales Manager of James Hardie Europe, international manufacturer of fibre cement building materials, discusses the criteria to be considered when selecting exterior cladding for new build or refurbishment projects.