Dow Corning Sealants Provide LEED Credits for Green Buildings
Midland-based Dow Corning Corp. Tuesday announced that as construction standards for energy efficient and green buildings become more stringent, use of its silicone sealants can contribute to earning LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credits as administered by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Using Dow Corning materials in combination with other construction materials can have a direct effect on several areas with specific LEED v3 credits, including LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovations Rating System: Section Materials & Resources, MR Credit 5: products manufactured within 500 miles of the building site location; Section Indoor Environmental Quality, IEQ Credit 4.1: Dow Corning Silicone Sealant VOC values fall below the applicable VOC limit listed within this credit; and Section Indoor Environmental Quality, IEQ Credit 4.2: related to the VOC content of paints and coatings.
"As a contributor of performance enhancing building materials for the construction industry, Dow Corning recognizes the need to deliver long-term sustainable solutions to create more environmentally conscious structures," said Jim Hayes, commercial director, construction industry, Dow Corning. "Dow Corning provides industry professionals with the products they need to achieve new designs and levels of energy performance."
Developing sustainable buildings requires many elements working together to create a world-class structure. Working with leading architects and contractors, Dow Corning has contributed to innovative designs such as:
* Solano County Government Center, Fairfield, California. Solano County's first LEED-certified building, the building incorporates sustainable design/build elements, including extensive use of solar electricity and an award-winning co-generation plant. Dow Corning brand silicone sealants complement its energy-efficient technologies with contributions to its weatherproofing and life-cycle.
* St. Pancras International Station, London. A Dow Corning silicone structural glazing sealant enabled the London & Continental Railways to transform a giant Victorian train shed into a structure filled with light. The sealant was also used to attach the glass paneling in the corridors and stairways leading to the service platforms.
* Torre Agbar, Barcelona, Spain. The multicolored skin on the Torre Agbar features an outer shell of more than 50,000 glass louvers that can be moved to control the amount of light and solar heat gain entering the building. Within the louvers are 4,400 opening windows, which allow natural ventilation of the offices inside. A Dow Corning silicone structural glazing sealant, chosen for its strength-flexibility ratio and durability was used to bond the louvers to their frames.
When determining LEED credits, Dow Corning recommends referring to the specific LEED literature for details concerning credits and when they can be taken. To learn more about the LEED credit contribution of Dow Corning silicone sealants visit www.dowcorning.com/construction.
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