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With the emerging trend of green building standards, including LEED, BREEAM and various other environmental certification programs becoming worldwide norms, architects and developers are in search of materials that will lessen the ecological footprint with minimal or no impact on design or performance. Terrazzo has become one of the most popular sustainable construction options. At Yuanda Stone, we have observed the increasing popularity of the use of terrazzo in eco-friendly projects such as corporate and educational buildings. Herein, we discuss the advantages of terrazzo as a sustainable building material.
Use of Recycled Content Materials
One of the strongest environmental benefit of terrazzo is that it is amenable to using recycled aggregates. When it comes to traditional terrazzo mixes, there were a fair amount of marble chips, granite particles, crushed glass, and recycled porcelain or even industrial waste like stone dust. Such materials would either be discarded in landfills or they would be disposed of at energy-consuming processes. Terrazzo helps address the virgin raw material demand by using the post-industrial and post-consumer waste. At Yuanda Stone, we collaborate with quarries and recycling partners to obtain high quality aggregates, which comply with aesthetical and structural needs. This approach helps green building projects tearn credits for recycled content while achieving unique visual textures not possible with conventional flooring.
Extended Lifespan Reduces Replacement Frequency
Sustainability is not only what something is made from, but what life span it has. Terrazzo can last, with commercial life span reaching, or more than fifty years, so that the life span itself is an important sustainability benefit of terrazzo, because, once flooring has been replaced, the entire structure then requires demolition, generates land fill, manufacturing processes for new materials, and then transporting the materials. Terrazzo cuts this chain entirely. This greatly reduced the building's ecological footprint on its whole life span, with Yuanda Stone now produce consistent, density and wearing resistance slabs and tiles with its skilled polishing machinery and precision cutting tools.
Low Volatile Organic Compound Emissions
A pillar of green building certification is indoor environmental quality. A variety of traditional flooring materials, such as vinyl, rubber, and adhesive-backed tiles, leach volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during installation and over time. Terrazzo, especially epoxy-based systems may be developed with very little VOC content. Terrazzo made of cement releases low levels of VOCs. This establishes healthier indoor environments for building occupants. At Yuanda Stone, our quality management system, which was certified under the ISO9001, maintains uniform material make up and we give more emphasis on formulations that will help in promoting indoor air quality of better levels in green buildings projects.
Thermal Mass and Energy Efficiency
Terrazzo helps in achieving energy performance with respect to thermal mass properties. In buildings with passive solar design or radiant floor heating, terrazzo helps stabilize indoor temperatures, reducing peak heating systems to maintain the indoor temperature to minimal peaks and decrease the overall heating and cooling loads. This impact reduces the energy consumption of mechanical systems and the carbon emission in such operations throughout a building life. The terrazzo products of Yuanda Stone can be produced in slab or tile or cut-to-size products which, when installed together with underfloor heating or thermal storage designs, fit perfectly.
Contribution to LEED and Other Certification Credits
Terrazzo is able to contribute directly to several categories of the green building rating system. In LEED v4.1, terrazzo can be used to qualify under the Materials and Resources category with regard to recycled content and regional resources. It helps in Indoor Environmental Quality by utilizing low-emitting materials. Terrazzo’s long life expectancy supports Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction credits. In part water efficiency credits can be met on the basis of reduced cleaning water needs of terrazzo. Terrazzo, when properly installed, will assist projects in obtaining a higher certification level without the use of exotic or untested materials.
Conclusion
Terrazzo is a rare blend of aesthetic beauty, structural integrity and environmental responsibility. Terrazzo makes an excellent flooring choice for green building projects that aim at limiting ecological impact while providing durable, healthy and stylish locations. Having more than 20 years of stone production experience, ISO14001 certification and insistence of quality, Yuanda Stone is offering an excellent terrazzo product based on the demands of sustainable construction.
