Schüco launches Carbon Control for CO2 reduction in the construction industry

In the future, a building's value will increasingly hinge on its carbon emissions over its lifetime. The Global Warming Potential (GWP), which measures a building's impact on global warming, will be essential for preserving its long-term value. This impact is quantified as a CO₂e (CO₂ equivalent) value.

Controlling this process and complying with regulations and certifications is becoming increasingly complex. Legal requirements and new European rules make it more challenging for planning and architectural firms to build in compliance. In turn, aluminium fabricators are finding it difficult to meet sustainable best practice requirements while keeping their business not only competitive but also future-proof.

Schüco's Carbon Control offers the solution by helping investors, architects, builders, managers and users to manage and reduce carbon emissions. This support extends from the initial design phase through construction, usage, and ultimately to the building's recycling phase. Consequently, buildings remain future-proof investments that consistently comply with legal requirements.

Carbon Control focuses on four crucial phases in the lifecycle of a building:

• Planning (Design to decarb): Schüco provides support during the design phase to optimise the CO₂ balance of a building, considering, for example, the shape of the building, materials, surface finishes and smart building technologies.
• Construction (Build to decarb): during the construction phase, Schüco's proprietary software SchüCal makes it possible, among other things, to monitor and manage the carbon footprint of façade elements, with a focus on sustainable materials such as Low Carbon (LC) and Ultra Low Carbon (ULC) aluminium. It calculates the environmental impact of these materials. The CO₂e input into the building is easily determined and shared with designers, building certifiers and investors in the form of an EPD.
• Use (Operate to decarb): Schüco optimises the operational phase with intelligent building management systems, thermally insulated facades and solar solutions. This results in more sustainable building management. Thanks to IoF ID (Internet of Façades), a digital tag on windows, doors, or other façade elements that gathers information about the product, planning and executing maintenance and product upgrades becomes more efficient. Additionally, it incorporates details regarding the appropriate actions during its decommissioning phase.
• Decommissioning (Recycle to decarb): the focus is on recycling and especially reusing materials at the end of the building's life, in line with the principles of Cradle to Cradle, to contribute to a circular economy.

In addition to the products and services offered by Schüco, it also includes project-specific advice and support from a team of Carbon Consultants. They help architects, developers and constructors actively minimise the façade's carbon footprint. By doing so, Schüco ensures the long-term competitiveness of its partners.

For more information about Schüco and Carbon Control, visit Minimising CO2 in the building envelope | Schüco Carbon Control (schueco.com)