Silicone Solutions from Dow Corning Help Conserve Energy, Reduce Construction Waste
A new generation of silicone based adhesives and sealants from Dow Corning are helping Indian architects design distinctive, modern structures, and at the same time is enabling them to meet the growing demand for environmentally sustainable design and construction techniques.Structures thus designed are termed "green buildings", and among other features, typically have high ceilings and use high performance glass in windows to maximize daylight without compromising energy efficiency of the building. Dow Corning’s window sealant technology saves energy by replacing traditional gaskets and metal inserts with silicone sealants to hold window glass into frames. The sealants allow window manufacturers to create larger, more efficient windows that provide better thermal insulation and let in more daylight, which reduces the need for artificial lighting. Silicone sealant technology enables the absorption of stress, prevents air & water intrusion and provides excellent insulation between window layers. A properly insulated building envelope keeps the interiors warm in winter and cooler in summer.
In addition, silicone products last longer than organic products and need to be replaced less often. This reduces the waste and solvent usage that results from sealing (and resealing) the building with an organic sealant.
Silicone materials from Dow Corning have been used in a number of buildings in India such as those in the IT parks in Hyderabad and commercial areas in Kolkata, as well as some iconic buildings in the Bandra-Kurla business district in Mumbai. Dow Corning products have also been used in super - tall structures such as Burj Dubai (the tallest man-made structure on the planet), One Bryant Park in New York (the first highrise office building to strive for a U.S. Green Building Council "platinum" rating) and the Northeast Asia Trade Tower (which represents South Korea’s entry into the super-tall commercial buildings).
"Indian real estate and infrastructure has seen phenomenal growth in the last few years," said Mr. S. Srinivas, Principal Counsellor, CII Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre (CII-GBC), Hyderabad. "Along with the structuring and organization of the market, builders are becoming increasingly conscious, responsible and innovative. The LEED-INDIA green building certification programme promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in areas such as sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. At the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) our vision is to usher in a green building movement and enable India to emerge as one of the world leaders in green buildings by 2010." At this point, the IGBC reports 300 registered buildings, 29 certified buildings and 170 million square foot green building footprint in India.
"Dow Corning strongly believes that a sustainable approach to construction, using environmentally appropriate materials and applications, is needed to enable the right mix of aesthetics and environmental efficiency," said Rajinder Khanna, Dow Corning’s Marketing Manager for the construction industry in India, ASEAN and ANZ. "At Dow Corning, we ensure that our products are compliant with the requirements of global green building certifications such as LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) of the USGBC (United States Green Building Council) and LEED India of the IGBC (Indian Green Building Council)."
About Indian Green Building Council
IGBC, which is a part of CII - Godrej GBC, is actively involved in promoting the Green Building concept in India.The council is represented by all stakeholders of construction industry comprising Corporate, Government, and Nodal agencies, Architects, Product manufacturers, Institutions, etc. The Council is hea- ded by Dr Prem C Jain. The council operates on a consensus based approach and is member-driven.
The vision of the council is to usher in a green building revolution and facilitate India emerging as one of the world leaders in green buildings by 2010.
