Italian contractor Permasteelisa Group reached a major milestone after being recognized for its sustainable construction efforts with the first-ever Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for project-specific, bespoke facades in the United States.
These awards for facades at the Gateway development at the University of California, Berkeley, are an industry first for the United States.
In the case of the bespoke facades for the Gateway, the impact of embodied carbon was calculated from product manufacture and installation through to use and end of life, with detailed analysis of raw materials, suppliers and their supply chain, plant locations, energy use, waste, packaging, transport, and site activities.
The main facade features an aluminum panel shaped to create a wave-like effect across the elevation. The second smaller facade sits at the entrance to the Gateway. Both have achieved 15 percent lower embodied carbon than industry-standard products.
EPDs require a full analysis of a product’s complete lifecycle and testing for its impact on the environment and human health regarding global warming potential, smog creation, ozone depletion, and water pollution.
