Aug 17 2009
Environmentally friendly design and construction was a key topic discussed at the First International Congress on Sustainability Science and Engineering organized by the Institute for Sustainability in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dow Corning’s William O’Brien, a global innovation strategic marketer, presented Trends in Environmentally Friendly Design and Construction to the diverse audience of business leaders, academics, policy leaders and sustainability-focused organizations.
“As we design and implement materials, processes and techniques that make construction more sustainable, we will have a tremendous impact on our environment,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien shared information from the United States Green Building Council suggesting that buildings consume nearly 40 percent of all of the energy used and account for nearly 40 percent of all CO2 emissions in the United States.
“By looking at the entire life cycle of a building – from backhoe to wrecking ball - we get a better view of the opportunities we have to improve upon the building’s environmental footprint while meeting the need for a functional, aesthetically pleasing piece of architecture,” said O’Brien.
Dow Corning designs silicon-based materials and processes to enhance the performance and sustainability of construction systems. Dow Corning’s products include silicone sealants and other construction chemicals used for building materials protection, commercial glazing, insulating glass, weather sealing, and window and door manufacturing. The use of some Dow Corning silicone sealants qualifies for credits in the Unites States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDÒ) certification process.