Since the establishment of the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design program (known as LEED) in 1998, the United States Green Building Council has served as a respected third-party authority for evaluating and certifying the energy efficiency of communities and individual buildings. The LEED system has evolved to be the guiding standard for architects and building designers when considering the energy efficiency of industrial or commercial facilities.
When companies or businesses make improvements toward reducing their energy consumption, they earn LEED points which, after a certain number have been earned, qualify their buildings or factories for LEED certification. Reaching this goal has become a prestigious feat for a business, and many work especially hard to earn certification by using a variety of strategies. Two popular steps that many architects take to increase efficiency include perforated metal cladding and sunshades on the exterior of the structure.
These two types of perforated metal panels are available in a variety of materials, sizes, and patterns, and are used as many different elements of a building, such as lighting covers, drains, signs, and screens. Perforated cladding and sunshades are just two uses for architects attempting to attain LEED certification.
Sunshades are placed outside windows to manage how much natural sunlight enters a building. Installing sunshades helps companies and building owners reduce air conditioning costs in the summer and heating costs in the winter. A workplace environment can be much more comfortable with the right balance of sunlight coming through the windows. Usually, perforated metal fabrication companies can determine the best angle and position of the sunshades outside a window, depending on the position of the sun throughout the day and its height in different seasons. The width and pattern of the perforations can also be customized to fit architects’ design plans.
Perforated cladding can be affixed to a building for much the same purpose, but on surfaces that absorb a great deal of sunlight. Cladding simply involves covering an existing surface with another material in order to enhance the characteristics and performance of the surface. Cladding can effectively lower energy costs while simultaneously earning LEED credits for the building owner or company.
The LEED system awards certification based on several different categories of improvements, including day-to-day operations, interior design, building construction, and more. Each category specifies requirements for certification based on a scale of 100 points.
To enhance the reputation of your building or business while lowering energy costs, take a look at perforated metal cladding and exterior sunshades to help move you toward the goal of LEED certification.
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