Archives: Environmental

Natural light is one of the key ways of saving energy. Daylighting minimizes the amount of artificial light and reduces electricity and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) costs. Electrical lighting produces a lot of heat, whereas natural lighting generates hardly any heat if it is properly controlled.  Making use of natural light can save up to 75 percent of the energy used for lighting buildings and reduce cooling costs.
In the past few years, lighting has become a focus for energy saving ideas. However, not enough effort has gone into maximization of the use of natural light either in building design or legislation.
Good daylighting solutions demand an integrated building design approach. Daylighting design should be holistic: developing solutions that are part of the main concept, while meeting visual, thermal and energy needs. We should discover how the sun shapes our experience, and apply this lesson to building design from the start.
Designing for daylighting has to be considered at the initial stages of building design. The orientation of the building and glazing relative to the sun path is the most important decision. This is followed by the design of the roof and facades, the selection of glazing systems, and daylight controls such as blinds and louvres.
As energy issues have become ever more pressing, buildings have become increasingly sophisticated in their various responses to site, climate and function – and much of this sophistication is expressed through technology.
Danpal® provides the right tools for planning the most effective light openings – by integrating appropriate products, which exploit the optimal level of energy resources – anywhere in the world, any time of day.
By using state-of-the-art software, Danpal® provides lighting and solar energy simulations. Danpal® is unique in offering simulation solutions – reflecting its 30 year heritage as a specialist in daylight architectural innovation.
Danpal® products are built into the simulation software. Architects can monitor internal heat and light levels during preliminary design by testing the diffusing and insulating capacity of various Danpal® solutions. This ensures optimal energy efficiency and visual comfort.
Danpal® simulations bring solar and energy efficiency to new levels and create flexibility in design. The simulation software enables architects to choose the perfect system design for their energy and lighting needs by "playing" with different product specification options and the structure area. Taking into account the system’s physical characteristics (light transmission, solar factor, U value, etc.), the software creates a simulation of daylight and energy consumption, then provides a map showing the natural illuminance levels throughout the building.

Here are some reasons to love green buildings.

It's about connecting communities
Sustainability is all about the connectivity of community. It requires us to recognize the power of community. Through good design, we strengthen the connections between people to make safer, well maintained and spaces for the long term. Sustainability means building the kind of environments that people embrace.

It's bringing us closer to nature
Most of the time, mankind has to overcome the natural elements and find the right balance between modern comforts and nature. Sustainable architecture provides a balance between the natural and artificial environment by blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor in terms of materials and by creating more efficient spaces. Thus, people can use and control the natural elements in order to enhance their lives.

 

It's comfortable
Healthy living means energy and resource conservation and efficiency, superior indoor air quality and control over thermal comfort. Having these 3 things in one place provides the ideal level of comfort.

It's cost effective
High-performing green buildings provide the best value for the taxpayer and for the general public through life cycle cost benefits and positive effects on human health.  A recent study of GSA’s 12 earliest green federal buildings shows energy use is down 26% and occupant satisfaction up 27%, compared to commercial office benchmark data.  The top third of studied buildings, which use an integrated approach, deliver even better results with 45% less energy consumption, 53% lower maintenance costs, and 39% less water use.

It's healthy
The careful use of materials can reduce energy consumption during the manufacturing process, protecting the health of occupants.  Sustainable construction techniques can lower the amount of construction waste that reaches landfills by 95% or more.
Sustainable buildings maximize the use of natural daylight. Our daily cycle takes its cues from the rising and setting of the sun. Artificial lights don’t send the right cues to keep our daily rhythms in check. The results of too much artificial light can be dramatic – poor lighting can contribute to depression (in winter), weight gain, lower productivity, and can increase the risk of other health problems.

It's happening now
In our age of high technology and mass communication we are constantly bombarded with new information. Sustainability is the happy space between our high-end gadgets and the possibilities of low-tech simple design solutions. Sustainable is now obtainable.

Why Danpal Loves Green
A global leader in the design and manufacture of daylight systems with high thermal insulation properties and mechanical resistance, Danpal enables architects to harness natural resources in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner. Here are some reasons why:

• Solutions which limit energy consumption: Our systems can adapt to variable climatic conditions for sensible management of available light.
• Adapted to the HQE approach, which has defined building certification. HQE targets both the interior of the building, i.e. the health and comfort of users, as well as integration into the environment, saving resources and reducing waste.
• Partnerships with the ADEME (Agency for Economic Development and Energy Control) and the CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research) using precise measurements created in test cells to validate the thermal performances of the Danpatherm system.
• Manufactured according to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
• Simplified maintenance through high pressure cleaning with fresh water, with minimal soap or detergent required.
• Recycling of off-cuts and packaging: Danpal® panels and waste are 100% recyclable. 100% of our production off-cuts are regranlulated by extrusion.
• Low on-site fabrication and handling: In 95% of cases we deliver systems that are manufactured to size (i.e. minimizing waste by eliminating off-cuts on site).
• Non pollutant: The Danpalon® system is certified as a non-pollutant and is suitable for use in sensitive fields such as the Agri-food sector.

Sustainable building uses a large number of strategies relating to the design, construction and operation of building projects. The use of green building materials and products is an integral part of green building design.

The benefits of green building materials to the owner and occupants include: Energy conservation, reduced maintenance costs, improved occupant health and productivity, lower costs of changing space configurations and greater design flexibility.  According to Roodman and Lenssen (1995) building and construction activities around the world consume 3 billion tons of raw materials each year (40% of total global use).

Using green building materials and products promotes conservation of dwindling nonrenewable resources. It can also help reduce the environmental impact associated with the extraction, transport, processing, fabrication, installation, reuse, recycling, and disposal of building materials.

Green building materials are composed of renewable resources. Green materials are environmentally responsible as the impact over the life of the product is considered. The selection criteria for green building materials is as follows:

• Resource efficiency:  This can be accomplished by using recycled content, natural and renewable materials, products manufactured with resource-efficient processes, locally available materials and components (saving energy resources in transportation), salvaged or refurbished products, reusable and recyclable materials and packaging and longer lasting materials.
• Energy efficiency: This can be maximized by using materials, components, and systems that help reduce energy consumption in buildings and facilities.
• Indoor air quality: Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is enhanced by using materials that meet the following criteria: Emit few or no carcinogens, minimal chemical emissions, installed with minimal VOC-producing compounds, moisture resistant, products that require simple, non-toxic cleaning methods and products that promote healthy IAQ by identifying indoor air pollutants or enhancing the air quality.
• Affordability
• Water conservation: This can be obtained by using products and materials that help reduce water consumption and conserve water.

 

Product selection

This can begin after establishing project-specific environmental goals. There are three basic steps leading to environmental assessment: Research, evaluation and selection.
Research involves collecting all technical information to be evaluated in order to identify all the available options. This includes manufacturers' information such as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) test data, source material characteristics, product warranties, recycled content information, durability data, environmental statements, building codes, government regulations, and more.

The evaluation step includes confirmation of technical information and filling in information gaps. The evaluator can also request product certifications from manufacturers. Evaluation and assessment is simple when comparing similar types of building materials but it is far more complex when comparing different products with the same function. When this is the case, both descriptive and quantitative forms of data need to be processed. A life cycle assessment (LCA) is an evaluation of the relative "greenness" of building materials and products, and it addresses the impact of a product through all its life stages.

The selection step involves using an evaluation matrix for scoring project-specific environmental criteria. The total score of each product evaluation shows the product with the highest environmental attributes. Individual criteria included in the rating system can be weighted to accommodate specific objectives.

Danpal Light Architecture Solutions for Building Envelopes – In Harmony with the Environment

A global leader in the design and manufacture of daylight systems with high thermal insulation properties and mechanical resistance, Danpal enables architects to harness natural resources in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner.

Danpal systems can adapt to variable climatic conditions for sensible management of available light. They are adapted to the HQE approach, which has defined building certification. HQE targets both the interior of the building, i.e. the health and comfort of users, as well as integration into the environment, saving resources and reducing waste.

Danpal has partnered with the ADEME (Agency for Economic Development and Energy Control) and the CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research) using precise measurements created in test cells to validate the thermal performances of the Danpatherm system. All Danpal products are manufactured according to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. They require simplified maintenance through high pressure cleaning with fresh water, and minimal soap or detergent. Danpal® panels and waste are 100% recyclable. 100% of our production off-cuts are regranlulated by extrusion.

Our systems require low on-site fabrication and handling: In 95% of cases we deliver systems that are manufactured to size (i.e. minimizing waste by eliminating off-cuts on site). The Danpalon® system is certified as a non-pollutant and is suitable for use even in sensitive fields such as the Agri-food sector. For all these reasons and more, Danpal is the environmentally friendly choice of building material.

Architecture is at a crossroads. Building materials and new construction, together with the maintenance and operation of buildings, account for a large proportion of  the world's greenhouse gas emissions. How can architects today design buildings which do not further deteriorate the environment or deplete the world's resources? Good architecture can be completely sustainable. The best buildings have always fitted with their immediate environment, even before sustainability was an issue. Here are some examples of Cool Green Architecture.
The new Copenhagen Waste-to-Energy Plant in Denmark is a waste treatment facility that has been turned into an exciting destination for Copenhagen’s citizens and visitors. This project became an opportunity for Bjarke Ingels and his collaborators to improve the quality of life for people living in Denmark’s capital city by turning part of the building and site into a ski slope, offering recreational opportunities in a setting that would formerly have been considered undesirable.
The Leadenhall Street office building by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, the tallest building in the heart of London, will feature a transparent atrium space that offers views into and out of the building. The tower will be lifted off the ground to make space for a seven-story atrium accessible from all directions at street level. By opening the atrium’s landscaped interior toward the southern sun, enabling the flow of pedestrians and incorporating a bar and restaurant – this urban space will become a relaxing oasis.
SOM’s design for Green Tech City in Hanoi, Vietnam, will create a new urban district for 20,000 people. Applying many of the principles of sustainability such as harnessing the wind and sun to support comfortable living conditions, the firm will also organize the district along a linear green corridor that incorporates low-rise pedestrian-friendly residential neighborhoods. By incorporating existing agricultural water channels into green spaces and waterways, this will give people access to green nature. These projects create rich environments beyond just functional purposes – benefitting both their users and adjacent communities.
At Danpal, we believe that creating healthy and safe, well designed, resource preserving functional physical environments in support of human habitation is the responsibility of architects.
A global leader in the design and manufacture of daylight systems with high thermal insulation properties and mechanical resistance, Danpal enables architects to harness natural resources in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner. Danpal light architecture solutions require minimal maintenance and offer excellent control of energy consumption, resulting in substantial life cycle cost savings. Danpal’s ready-to-install systems help reduce on-site labour time, particularly in open environments or problematic conditions. Perfect for facades, cladding, roofing, skylights and shading applications, Danpal® makes it easy to design natural daylight environments. A truly global company – with over 30 years’ experience offering unique solutions to architects – Danpal® have supported a multitude of innovative and renowned sustainable architectural projects.