Alcoa Architectural Products has introduced a patent-pending architectural panel called Reynobond with EcoClean. Reynobond is a prepainted aluminum coil-coated panel. EcoClean is a proprietary superhydrophilic titanium dioxide coating that uses UV light to break organic pollutants like smog, sulphur oxides and vehicle exhaust into harmless material that is carried off when it rains. According to Alcoa, 10,000 square feet of Reyobond with EcoClean is endowed with the air-cleansing power of 80 living trees.
The benefits of reduced maintenance and a less-polluted environment are well worth the 5 percent increase in materials cost that EcoClean panels command. Pollution-fighting buildings, especially those that that clean themselves as well as the air around them, are evidence of small, but exciting steps toward a cleaner environment.
Pollution-Eating Buildings
Smog-Bashing Architectural Veneers Wear Alcoa's EcoClean Skins
Trend Themes
1. Self-cleaning Architecture - There is an opportunity for architectural innovation that is both self-cleaning and environmentally friendly.
2. Smog-reducing Materials - The demand for materials that actively work to reduce smog pollution and other environmental pollutants will grow.
3. Superhydrophilic Coatings - There is potential to develop other applications for superhydrophilic coatings that harness the cleansing power of rainwater.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - Architects and construction companies can lead the way in creating buildings that have a positive impact on the environment.
2. Construction Materials - The development of new materials has the potential to disrupt the construction industry by changing the way buildings are designed and built.
3. Environmental Technology - Companies specializing in environmental technology will have opportunities to innovate and create products that help to combat pollution and improve air quality.