Achieving net-zero goals with architectural zinc

by arslan_ahmed | July 14, 2023 12:53 pm

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By Charles “Chip” McGowan

Evaluating materials and products to meet projects’ performance requirements and code compliance is an ongoing task for specification professionals. Supporting modern construction goals, sustainable attributes, and outcomes are now part of this evaluation and specification process. Today, specifiers are increasingly being asked to examine the carbon footprint for each choice and their collective effect.

For roofing and wall cladding products, architectural zinc’s inherent metallic properties can help reduce the operational carbon footprint for residential and commercial buildings, and improve their energy-efficient, climate-resilient, long-lasting performance.

Carbon concerns and climate change

When global, national, and local governments, and other authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) discuss reducing their carbon footprint, the inference is to reduce the effects of climate change as a result of the generation of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from various sources, including both commercial and residential construction.

To fathom the importance of lowering construction’s carbon footprint, one must grasp the extent of carbon concerns and climate change.

Carbon emissions, specifically emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), are identified as GHGs. In conversations, the terms carbon emissions and GHG emissions are often interchangeable. In application, GHG emissions are typically measured in terms of “carbon equivalent” (CO2eq) and global warming potential (GWP). A 100-year GWP is standard, which represents the energy absorbed by a CO2eq GHG over 100 years.

CO2eq emissions absorb energy, trapping it in the atmosphere and reflecting it back as heat. The increased GHG levels and higher temperature cannot be sustained by the Earth’s natural environmental processes and are among the causes affecting the climate. These effects are demonstrated in more frequent, extreme temperature fluctuations and weather events, such as hurricanes, cyclones, tsunamis, severe storms, wildfires, droughts, and floods. Shifting patterns also result in record heat waves in formerly cold climates, and snow and hail in formerly warm climate zones. These changes have caused costly damage to critical infrastructure; disrupted food, water, and economic supply chains, and put people’s health, safety, security, and lives at risk.

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According to the Canada Energy Regulator (CER), total GHG emissions in 2020 accounted for 609.7 million tonnes (672.1 million tons) of CO2eq. The geographical regions accounting for the highest emissions were:

• Alberta at 232.6 million tonnes (256.5 million tons).
• Ontario at 135.7 million tonnes (149.6 million tons)—with buildings accounting for 25.2 per cent of the province’s total emissions.
• Quebec at 69.1 million tonnes (76.24 million tons).
• Saskatchewan at 59.7 million tonnes (65.89 million tons).
• British Columbia at 56 million tonnes (61.75 million tons).

While Northwest Territories emitted only 1.198 million tonnes (1.321 million tons), buildings accounted for 23.4 per cent of its total emissions.

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The sectors responsible for Canada’s highest emissions in 2020 were:

• Oil and gas at 162.2 million tonnes (178.8 million tons), representing 26.6 per cent of total annual emissions.
• Transportation at 144.4 million tonnes (159.2 million tons), representing 23.7 per cent.
• Industries and manufacturing at 85.64 million tonnes (94.42 million tons), representing 14.1 per cent.
• Buildings at 79.6 million tonnes (87.8 million tons), representing 13.1 per cent.¹

The internationally recognized Reporting Standard by Greenhouse Gas Protocol categorizes emissions reporting into three “scopes.”

• Scope 1: Direct emissions associated with the consumption of fuel, including transportation, equipment operation, and facility operation.
• Scope 2: Indirect emissions associated with purchased energy for electricity, heating, and cooling.
• Scope 3: Indirect emissions for activities not included in Scope 1 or 2 that are listed in 15 categories, including waste generated in operations and end-of-life treatment of sold products.²

 Specification professionals can help significantly lower commercial and residential buildings’ GHG emissions on a property across all three scopes by:

1. Reducing “operational carbon”—Addressed in Scopes 1 and 2, this is the CO2eq associated with a property’s fossil fuel energy consumption and its emissions. One may lower operational carbon by using renewable energy sources to fuel the building’s operation, by using high-efficiency electric appliances and equipment, and by incorporating energy-efficient, high-performance systems and technologies.
2. Reducing “embodied carbon”—Addressed in Scope 3, this is the CO2eq associated with the production, use, and disposal of a property’s construction materials and processes. One may lower embodied carbon by selecting materials produced with renewable energy that have a long, useful life and are recycled.

According to the 2019 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction Sector published by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), buildings’ construction and operations accounted for:

• 36 per cent of final energy use in 2018.
• 39 per cent of energy and process-related CO2eq emissions in 2018; 11 per cent of which came from manufacturing building materials and products.

The report identifies steel, cement, and glass as having the largest opportunities for carbon footprint reduction. Since 2019, these industries have taken significant steps to lower their carbon footprint.³

The Carbon Smart Materials Palette, a project providing attribute-based design and material specification guidance, states, “It is anticipated that embodied carbon will be responsible for 72 per cent of the carbon emissions associated with global new construction between now and 2030.”⁴

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Material transparency allows specifiers and building teams to make more informed decisions. Assisting with that evaluation, manufacturers can provide life cycle assessments (LCAs), environmental product declarations (EPDs), Cradle to Cradle certifications, and other documentation. Where industry average EPDs and other data was once acceptable, product- and facility-specific data are now necessary for more accurate selection criteria and project sustainability reporting.

Carbon-reduced, high-quality zinc

As a natural metal, zinc is the 24^th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust and the fourth most used metal in the world.⁵ The International Zinc Association (IZA) estimates the world’s zinc use at 20 million tonnes (19.6 million tons) per year. Both mining and recycling are necessary and available to meet anticipated zinc demands. Globally, 12.8 million tonnes (12.6 tons) of zinc are mined and 7.6 million tonnes (7.6 tons) recycled annually.⁶

Mining, extracting, and refining metals is an energy-intensive process. As material demands and energy costs rise, energy-efficient production maximizes both economic and environmental resources. Since zinc has a relatively low melting point of 418 C (784 F), it takes less energy to process it than other metals and materials. For comparison, aluminum melts at 660 C (1,220 F) and steel at 1,370 C (2,500 F).

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A recent study calculated 65 per cent of zinc production’s carbon footprint could be attributed to smelting. Choosing zinc manufacturers that have minimized their already relatively low carbon footprint is one more step toward reducing overall GHG emissions.⁷

For architectural applications, raw zinc material is smelted, cast as a material of uniform and certified quality, and wound as a coil-in-one continuous operation. Rolled zinc sheet is produced by alloying special high-grade (SHG), 99.995 per cent pure zinc with minute quantities of copper, titanium, and aluminum. The alloy composition provides the material the necessary strength, while allowing the architectural product to be easily shaped.

IZA provides practical guidance on calculating the carbon footprint for SHG zinc, in compliance with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14040 and 14044, and the Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard by GHG Protocol.⁸ As a global average, the IZA calculated the carbon footprint GWP for primary SHG zinc production to be 3.64 kg (8.02 lb) CO2eq per 1 kg (2.2 lb).⁹ Many IZA member companies have committed to climate change policies to reach net-zero Scopes 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2050. An increasing number also are working on Scope 3 targets.¹⁰

One IZA member has further lowered the carbon footprint of its SHG zinc product to achieve a 100-year GWP of 1.85 kg (4.08 lb) CO2eq per 1 kg (2.2 lb).¹¹ This savings was gained through energy-efficient production practices that rely on electricity largely generated from renewable sources, including water and wind power. In addition, its product uses recycled zinc material. This investment reduced the product’s impact by 54 per cent and saves more than 36,000 tonnes (3,5431 tons) of CO2eq each year, equivalent to the GHG emissions of a small town with 5,400 people. Quantifying this to size and area, a standing-seam roof would have 12 kg (26.5 lb) CO2eq per 1 m² (26.5 lb per 10.8 sf). This low-carbon architectural zinc material is now available in North America.

Composition, patination, and installation of architectural zinc

In North America, ASTM B69-21, Standard Specification for Rolled Zinc, is the primary reference document for Type 1 and Type 2 architectural rolled SHG zinc alloys and their expected characteristics.¹² The zinc alloy composition determines the metal’s colouration. Type 1 tends toward blue-grey and Type 2 contains slightly more copper (0.80-1.00 per cent), which produces more of a graphite-grey colouration.

Untreated, architectural-grade zinc looks bright and shiny, and is light reflective. Over time, a natural matte patina develops, creating a dynamic appearance as the material ages. A patina’s formation is the process of zinc carbonate “freckles” gradually growing together. The rate of its formation is related to the slope of the surface. The patina will form more slowly on a vertical wall surface than on a slightly pitched roof. The patination speed varies between six months and five years or more, depending on climatic conditions. The more exposure to wetting and drying cycles, the quicker the patina will develop.

Some manufacturers offer pre-weathered zinc material that accelerates the patina formation under controlled conditions. Factory-finished options are also available to achieve an initial, uniform esthetic. Typically, these finishes are painted or phosphate architectural coatings applied in the factory under environmentally controlled conditions.

Architectural zinc coils are unwound, cut, and fabricated into panels, tiles, and other formed exterior and interior architectural products. Sheets also can be perforated and fashioned into ornamental accents. Since zinc is a lightweight material, it can help reduce the structural load and associated materials on a building.

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Qualified contractors can install zinc products as wall cladding and facade systems; on low-sloped, steep-sloped, flat, and mansard roofs; and as hip and ridge caps, drip edges, alleys, step flashing, dormers, cupolas, parapets, gutters, downspouts, and more. Fabricators can also customize seam profiles to the project’s requirements.

Meeting building projects’ sustainable goals, contractors, fabricators, and installers provide high-performance, low-carbon product solutions. Some are considering the environmental impact of their own practices. Federal agencies and other AHJs can require reports for operational, transportation, and equipment GHG emissions; energy and material sourcing, recycling, and landfill waste streams.

Climate-resilient, long-lived performance

Architectural zinc has been used in coastal communities for generations and can be seen on building projects across many climate zones. Installed properly, zinc roofing and wall systems will resist air and water infiltration, and withstand high winds reaching up to 241 kph (150 mph).

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Zinc’s natural patina will appear lighter when used in marine locations where the air contains chlorides (salt). Deposits will not be as visible on lighter blue-grey zinc. For esthetic reasons, it is recommended to clean the surface of the material with clean water (not seawater) at least twice a year in maritime climate zones, depending on local conditions. If the metal is scratched, scuffed, or fingerprinted, with time and exposure to wetting and drying cycles zinc will heal itself by re-patinating.

In areas facing multiple climate challenges, such as marine environments that are susceptible to wildfires, architectural zinc offers a noncombustible solution as it is also non-corrosive. Research from the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) estimates the annual cost of corrosion to Canada at $51.9 billion.¹³

Along with zinc’s climate-resilient, non-corrosive performance, it also provides a long lifespan to support reduced-carbon sustainable design and operational goals. Reduced-carbon architectural zinc and other metal roofing materials have a lifespan of 100 years or more.

In Canada and the U.S., asphalt shingles are used on approximately 75 per cent of homes.¹⁴ The lifespan of an asphalt roofing is approximately 20 years.¹⁵ While the initial material purchase price of asphalt is less expensive, over the lifetime use of the roof, architectural zinc costs less.¹⁶

Replacing a roof is not only a material and labour expense, but it also disrupts the property’s operation and occupants, resulting in lost productivity. For example, rooftop photovoltaic (PV) arrays have a lifespan of approximately 25 to 30 years for residential homes, and longer for more robust commercial buildings systems.¹⁷ This means during a PV array’s lifetime use, one would need to replace an asphalt roof at least once, interrupting renewable solar energy power generation. A zinc roof provides a platform to mount solar panels without replacing the roof, and will outlast the PV array’s lifespan.

In addition to accommodating power-generation systems, gutters, and downspouts fabricated from architectural zinc offer decades of continuous use in rainwater collection and harvesting systems. Its run-off is non-staining and non-toxic.

During their many years of use, zinc building products do not rot, rust, or need repainting. No paint, varnish, or sealants are necessary. Architectural zinc products require very little maintenance, repair, or replacement, which further lowers their associated economic and environmental costs. At the end of its long life of use on a property, one can also recycle the zinc material.

Asphalt shingles are among the seven largest contributors to construction and demolition debris. More than 90 per cent of used asphalt shingles, equivalent to around 9.8 million tonnes (10.89 million tons), end up in a landfill every year. With oil as its primary component, asphalt shingles are especially harmful to the environment when discarded.¹⁴

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Zinc is 100 per cent recyclable, without degradation to its performance properties. Sixty per cent of all zinc produced is still in use and 45 per cent of all zinc produced is recycled. Zinc in building and infrastructure represents the largest stock by far with high product-specific recycling rates. Globally, 95 per cent of rolled zinc sheet is recycled.¹⁸

The sustainable attributes and applications of architectural zinc products support criteria for several green building programs including Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) certification, the Green Globes system, the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, and the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute’s certification system.

Products that have earned Cradle to Cradle certification demonstrate: no release of any toxic substances during usage, deconstruction, and recycling; retainage of original properties without loss of performance; and re-useability as a new item of at least equal value.¹⁹

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 Global, national, and industry support

Climate change is a worldwide issue and actions to limit its effects are global undertakings. At the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, world leaders signed an international legally binding treaty, now known as the Paris Agreement. Its overarching goal is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 C (3.6 F) above pre-industrial levels” and to pursue efforts limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 C (2.7 F).²⁰

In 2019, the UNEP’s “Emissions Gap Report” research indicated that efforts were not on track to achieve the 1.5 C (2.7 F) goal. The report called for GHG emissions to drop 7.5 per cent per year through 2030. In recent years, new data have stressed the need for faster and deeper emission cuts to meet the 1.5 C (2.7 F) goal and to avoid severe climate change impacts.²¹

The UN’s “Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report”²² called for more urgent worldwide action:

In this decade, accelerated action to adapt to climate change is essential to close the gap between existing adaptation and what is needed. Meanwhile, keeping warming to 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels requires deep, rapid, and sustained greenhouse gas emissions reductions in all sectors. Emissions should be decreasing by now and will need to be cut by almost half by 2030, if warming is to be limited to 1.5 C.

Over the years, Canada has followed through on its Paris commitments by investing more than $120 billion to reduce emissions, protect the environment, spur out clean technologies and innovation, and help Canadians and communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.²³

The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, implemented in 2021, established the Government of Canada’s 2030 GHG target as Canada’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement—an emissions reduction target of 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. The act also states Canada’s commitment to achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.²⁴

Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan includes several initiatives that will reduce emissions within the buildings sector, such as the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GCIB), which provides a funding of $1.5 billion to improve energy efficiency in community centres, sport facilities, and cultural spaces.²⁵

The National Research Council Canada (NRC) supports the reduction of carbon emissions and transition to a green economy, as it conducts research and development on innovative construction materials and revitalizing national housing and building standards to encourage low-carbon construction solutions.²⁶

As part of its 2023-24 departmental plan, the NRC will develop a Centre of Excellence in construction life-cycle assessment (LCA) to support industry development of low-carbon materials and solutions, and help other government departments create construction sector policies that involve lifecycle carbon. Research projects will be launched under the NRC platform to decarbonize Canada’s construction sector to reduce the carbon footprint of key structural materials, and use innovative components as alternatives for high embodied carbon materials with the aim of reducing the environmental footprint of buildings and infrastructure. Further, the  NRC also will initiate the development of industry  guidelines for low-carbon, federally funded projects for buildings and infrastructure.²⁷

The NRC Codes Canada group acts as the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC) secretariat, which provides technical, policy, and administrative support, and publishes the National Model Codes. In early 2023, CBHCC began sharing draft policy recommendations for developing and implementing GHG emissions provisions in the National Model Codes. Operational carbon will be addressed in the 2025 codes and embodied carbon in the 2030 codes.²⁸

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The NRC will lead policy discussions with the provinces and territories to define the role of the National Model Codes in addressing durability and extreme weather events such as flooding, wildfire, and extreme wind. It will make future climate data available to the National Model Codes development system to enable building design for future climates.²⁹

Effective as of April, major Government of Canada suppliers are compelled to disclose their GHG emissions and set reduction targets. Suppliers can fulfil this requirement through participation in Canada’s net-zero challenge or another approved internationally recognized and functionally equivalent standard or initiative. Going forward, the net-zero challenge will not only be for businesses, but also for cities.³⁰

City, provincial, territorial, and indigenous jurisdictions, policies, and laws; corporate and non-profit practices; and sustainable building programs will provide additional support as well. For example, British Columbia’s Energy Step Code establishes a series of incremental improvements, targeting net-zero energy readiness by 2032.³¹

Focused on lowering buildings’ energy consumption and GHG emissions, the 2030 challenge proposes all new buildings, developments, and major renovations to be carbon neutral by 2030. Moving to carbon neutral by 2030 means the construction and operation of buildings will no longer require the consumption of fossil fuel energy or the emission of GHGs.

This challenge has been adopted by 73 per cent of the 20 largest architecture/engineering firms, responsible for more than $100 billion in construction annually, and endorsed by The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC), Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), and many others.³²

 Call to action

Considering a typical building is in use for 50 to 100 years, the projects being designed, specified, and constructed today will be completing their operational lifecycles around 2073, and into the 2120s.

Specification professionals have a unique role in mitigating climate change and its effects through selecting materials, products, and practices that reduce buildings’ operational and embodied carbon. Architectural zinc material and product manufacturers can offer support and sustainable solutions.

In North America, architectural zinc can be specified as manufactured with energy-efficient, low-carbon processes, validated with product-specific documentation. Installed as roofing, wall cladding, and other building products, architectural zinc supports climate-resilient, low-maintenance performance, and occupants’ safety and health. With a lifespan of 100 years or more, architectural zinc saves time, material, and money. Infinitely recyclable, zinc continues to add value beyond the life of the building.

Notes

¹ Canada Energy Regulator, “Provincial & Territorial Energy Profiles,” modified March 3, 2023; www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles-explore.html[11], accessed May 17, 2023.

² World Resources Institute & World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Greenhouse Gas Protocol: Technical Guidance for Calculating Scope 3 Emissions, Version 1.0, 2013, ghgprotocol.org/sites/default/files/ghgp/standards/Scope3_Calculation_Guidance_0.pdf[12].

³ United Nations Environmental Programme, 2019 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction, https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/3da9daf9-ef75-4a37-b3da-a09224e299dc/2019_Global_Status_Report_for_Buildings_and_Construction.pdf[13]

⁴ Carbon Smart Materials Palette, an Architecture 2030 Project, “Why Embodied Carbon?” www.materialspalette.org/[14], accessed May 17, 2023.

⁵ International Zinc Association (IZA) “Environment – Zinc is Natural,” www.zinc.org/environment-2/, accessed May 17, 2023.

⁶ IZA, Zinc Recycling Material Supply, 2022, www.zinc.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2022/10/Material-Supply_VF_1_23.pdf[15].

⁷ The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, “A global life cycle assessment for primary zinc production;” Van Genderen, E., Wildnauer, M., Santero, N. et al.; Nov. 2016 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11367-016-1131-8[16].

⁸ IZA, “Carbon Footprint Guidance,” www.zinc.org/carbon_footprint_guidance/[17], accessed May 17, 2023.

⁹ IZA, “Life Cycle Assessment,” www.zinc.org/life-cycle-assessment/[18], accessed May 17, 2023.

¹⁰ IZA, “Climate Change,” www.zinc.org/climate_change/[19], accessed May 17, 2023.

¹¹ RHEINZINK, “Sustainable Architecture,” www.rheinzink.us/sustainability/sustainable-planning-and-building/sustainable-architecture/[20], accessed May 17, 2023.

¹² ASTM B69-21, “Standard Specification for Rolled Zinc,” www.astm.org/b0069-21.html[21], accessed May 17, 2023.

¹³ Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), “2021 IMPACT Canada Study,” www.ampp.org/technical-research/what-is-corrosion/corrosion-reference-library/impact-canada[22], https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NACE/cedda8a4-c3c0-4583-b1b6-3b248e6eb1f2/UploadedImages/Resources/pdf/IMPACT-CANADA-2021.pdf[23], accessed May 17, 2023.

¹⁴ “How Much Waste Does a Renovation Create?” Tessa Di Grandi and Alejandra Dander, Nov. 30, 2022; www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/how-much-waste-does-a-renovation-create/[24], accessed May 17, 2023.

¹⁵ American Chemical Society, Chemical & Engineering News, “What’s That Stuff? Asphalt,” Michael Freemantle, Vol. 7, No. 42, Nov. 22, 1999, pubsapp.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/stuff/7747scit6.html[25].

¹⁶ Consumer Reports, “Roofing Buying Guide,” April 8, 2022, www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/roofing/buying-guide/[26].

¹⁷ PV Magazine, “How Long Do Rooftop Residential Solar Panels Last,” Ryan Kennedy, Sept. 27, 2022, www.pv-magazine-usa.com/2022/09/27/how-long-do-rooftop-residential-solar-panels-last-2[27].

¹⁸ IZA, “Circularity,” www.zinc.org/circularity-2/, and “2050 Demand Supply,” https://www.zinc.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2022/10/2050-Demand-Supply_VF_11_22.pdf[28], accessed May 17, 2023.

¹⁹ Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, www.c2ccertified.org/[29], accessed May 17, 2023.

²⁰ United Nations (UN) Climate Change, “UNFCCC Process—The Paris Agreement,” www.unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement[30], accessed May 17, 2023.

²¹ UN Environmental Programme, Emissions Gap Report 2019, www.unep.org/interactive/emissions-gap-report/2019[31].

²² UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), “Synthesis Report for the Sixth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2023;” March 30, 2023; www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-cycle/, accessed May 17, 2023[32].

²³ Government of Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, “Canada’s Eighth National Communication and Fifth Biennial Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),” Jan. 1, 2023; www.unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/Canada%20NC8%20BR5%20EN.pdf[33], accessed May 17, 2023.

²⁴ See note 23.

²⁵ See note 23.

²⁶ Government of Canada, National Research Council Canada, “National Research Council Canada 2023–24 Departmental Plan,” March 9, 2023; nrc.canada.ca/en/corporate/planning-reporting/national-research-council-canada-2023-24-departmental-plan[34], accessed May 17, 2023.

²⁷ See note 26.

²⁸ The Building Officials Association of British Columbia, “Consultation on Draft Policy Framework for Climate Change Mitigation,” https://boabc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Consultation-on-Draft-Policy-Framework-for-Climate-Change-Mitigation.pdf[35], “Policy Considerations for Developing and Implementing Greenhouse Gas

Emissions Provisions in the National Model Codes,” www.boabc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Policy-Considerations-for-Developing-and-Implementing-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions-Provisions-in-the-National-Model-Codes.pdf[36], accessed May 17, 2023.

²⁹ See note 26.

³⁰ Government of Canada, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, “Government of Canada champions sustainable procurement through new green standards for major contracts,” Feb. 28, 2023; www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/news/2023/02/government-of-canada-champions-sustainable-procurement-through-new-green-standards-for-major-contracts.html[37], accessed May 17, 2023.

³¹ Government of British Columbia, Building and Safety Standards Branch, Energy Step Code Council, “Building Beyond the Standard,” www.energystepcode.ca/[38], accessed May 17, 2023.

³² Architecture 2030, “How widely adopted is the 2030 Challenge?” www.architecture2030.org/about/faq/#toggle-id-3[39], accessed May 17, 2023.

[40]Author

Charles (Chip) McGowan is the president of RHEINZINK America Inc. and has more than three decades of experience working with architectural, specifications, and installation professionals on projects featuring metal building products. He is a member of the ASTM B02 Nonferrous Metals and Alloys (ASTM) committee and represents RHEINZINK’s membership in the Metal Construction Association (MCA), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and the American Institute of Architects (AIA). McGowan can be reached at charles.mcgowan@rheinzink.com.

Source URL: https://www.constructioncanada.net/architectural-zinc/

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