Is Aluminum Eco-friendly?
Aluminum is one of the most environmentally friendly metals in the world, making it a superior choice for construction applications and building projects. It is a sustainable choice due to its abundance of materials, recyclability, and eco-friendly properties.
Environmental Benefits of Aluminum
As sustainable design continues to grow, aluminum stands out as an environmentally responsible material choice due to its combination of properties, including its high recyclability, exceptional durability, and significant energy-saving potential. Its lightweight nature reduces energy consumption during transportation, construction, and packaging, all while maintaining performance and aesthetic needs.
Lightweight and Recyclable
Many ask, “Is aluminum a renewable resource?” Aluminum is non-renewable; however, it has a unique advantage because it can be reused and recycled indefinitely without degrading its essential properties. This ability to be repurposed helps minimize environmental impact.
As a highly durable metal, aluminum is 100% recyclable. Aluminum’s recyclability preserves resources and contributes significantly to long-term energy efficiency. Recycling aluminum requires a fraction of the energy needed to produce new aluminum from raw materials.
Energy-Efficient Production
Aluminum’s ability to retain its properties through endless recycling cycles makes it highly sustainable, supporting both environmental conservation and resource efficiency. The use of renewable energy in production facilities also helps reduce the carbon footprint of aluminum manufacturing.
Corrosion Resistance
There is a common misconception that as aluminum ages, it will oxidize and rust. As long as it is properly produced, finished, and installed, oxidation and rust should not occur. Aluminum exhibits notable resistance to oxidation and corrosion due to its ability to form a thin, protective layer of aluminum oxide on its surface when exposed to oxygen. To enhance aluminum’s natural resistance, treatments such as anodizing, painting, or applying coatings can help.
Low Toxicity
Aluminum’s low toxicity is a significant advantage in its use for building products, contributing to safer living and working environments. This low toxicity extends through aluminum’s entire lifecycle in building products, from manufacturing through use and recycling. Parallel’s production and finishing processes are VOC-free.
Versatility
Aluminum’s versatility is one of its most valuable attributes, making it a go-to material for architects and designers. This lightweight metal can be easily extruded, rolled, or machined, allowing for creative and functional designs that meet diverse architectural needs.
Why Architects & Designers Should Choose Parallel Products
Parallel’s aluminum products combine the appeal of wood with the ingenuity of expertly designed, long-lasting architectural solutions. Our powder coated aluminum systems won’t warp, crack, or fade, and are created for simple installation.
Our team continues to educate the market about environmental resilience at a production level. We educate designers and developers on overall material options, along with the proper material selections for certain applications.
Design Flexibility of Parallel’s Aluminum
Parallel’s aluminum wood panels offer exceptional design flexibility, combining the aesthetic appeal of wood with the durability and benefits of aluminum. A key advantage of our panels lies in the installation method, which significantly enhances both their visual appeal and longevity.
Hidden fastening systems and concealed attachments ensure clean, uninterrupted lines that elevate the aesthetic of the structure. This approach eliminates the need for exposed fasteners, addressing the critical issue that exposed fasteners are prone to corrosion over time, compromising the integrity of the attachment and the panel itself.
Fulfill Sustainability Initiatives
The combination of advanced pretreatment and close collaboration illustrates our dedication to fulfilling sustainability initiatives through innovative processes.
Along with using renewable energy, Parallel’s manufacturing facility has advanced pretreatment systems that ensure water is purified and untreated water doesn’t enter the environment. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) holds trainings at Parallel’s Colorado facilities, focused on sharing sustainable practices.
Resilience & Durability
An acid bath treatment is a common step in the pretreatment of aluminum. It serves to clean the metal, removing any oxide layers, contaminants, or residues that could interfere with coating processes. In the case of wood-look aluminum, this treatment ensures finishes or coatings can be properly applied.
Earn LEED Credits
Using permanent aluminum materials like Parallel products can help designers earn credits that contribute to a LEED-certified project. Some of these credits include recyclability, a Class A fire-rating, and chromate-free materials. Our 5-stage acid-bath treatment also contributes to LEED credits as this procedure ensures there’s no chemical off-gassing.
Parallel’s Solutions
When you choose Parallel, you can guarantee that your commercial or residential project uses the highest quality aluminum. With an emphasis on functionality, durability, and aesthetics, you’ll get more out of your project with Parallel.
Learn more about Parallel’s solutions for your project today!