|
|
|
|
In view of rising energy costs, there is also an increased interest in creating energy efficiency and the benefits of environment-friendly green buildings. There is a growing motivation to integrate sustainable and green features into buildings as they improve the living and working environment.
Use of copper facilitates in enhancing the green factor. Naturally resistant to weather and decay, copper can also be alloyed with other commonly available metals to increase strength, performance characteristics and colour. Copper is also tarnish resistant thus making it an important material for sustainable, green building projects.
The building industry has long valued the beauty, longevity and practicality of copper. Its high ductility makes it easily pliable so it is ideal for cladding complicated details and shapes. Copper and its alloys are also used in the manufacture of interior design fixtures and decorative objects. Handles, door knobs and lock cylinders made from copper are current hardware items found in homes globally.
Copper sheets are light weight, easy to join, visually attractive and extremely durable. It resists attacks by air and moisture. Copper alloys such as bronzes and brasses (copper, alloyed with aluminium and zinc principally) are used in architectural design thus offering a variety of colours and finishes.
Story continues below 
The metal is also a key component of many energy-saving technologies. For instance, passive solar water heating systems employ copper to capture and convert sunlight into heat. Copper heat exchangers efficiently transfer the thermal energy absorbed by the solar collector to the home’s hot water system. Sunlight is abundant, and even where it is not readily available, can supplement a home’s hot water needs virtually cost-free once a system is installed.
Copper provides intangible benefits. In the era of global warming and GHG emissions, copper assumes a significant role as the metal of choice to support sustainable buildings. As the only metal with proven anti-microbial properties, it opens new avenues in infection control as well.
Thus the adoption of energy efficient copper products can offer immense benefits to the user as well as the country and the global environment. It naturally remains the metal of choice in the present and future markets.
About International Copper Promotion
The International Copper Promotion Council (India), (ICPCI) is the Indian centre of the International Copper Association Limited, an organisation for the promotion of copper worldwide. ICPCI is driven by the same objective as its parent organisation, which is to promote the beneficial usage of copper to health, environment and energy needs.
ICPCI’s activities focus on helping end-users to exploit the positive attributes of copper better. ICPCI actively promotes copper through seminars, workshops and training programmes across India, in collaboration with other organisations, institutions and trade bodies. For more information, visit: www.copperindia.org
| Articles | |
 |
Site Map
 |
 |
 |
 |
|  |
COMMENT
Comment on this article