Adapting to a more volatile climate means traditional ways of building are not just inadequate. They’re also irresponsible.
According to the the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the construction industry accounts for 40% of worldwide energy usage.
Experts estimate that by 2030, the global volume of construction output will grow by 85%. Traditional construction builds face extended timelines, skilled labour shortages, quality issues, and have a huge environmental footprint.
The building and construction sector are responsible for…
The traditional Portland Cement Industry is massively carbon intensive, and the world is starting to notice! It currently contributes >5% of all human-made CO2 emissions (approximately 1 ton CO2 per 1 ton of cement).
We are here to change that.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center in the US, the scope and severity of wildfires has steadily increased over the last 20 years. Currently they are peaking at over 10 million acres burned in the US during the worst years. From Canada to Australia, the power of wildfires has left homes and communities devastated. That’s why fire resistance is a key focus for the R&D team at ZS2 Technologies. After countless burn tests and rigorous third party verification by QAI Laboratories, standard TechPanel wall assemblies have achieved a one hour fire rating with plenty of opportunity to increase fire resistance with the TechClad exterior cladding system. This focus on fire safety means we achieved WUI (Wildland Urban Interface) Certification for ZS2 products, which means you can build with confidence despite rising wildfire risks.
According to the WHO, floods are the most frequent natural disaster around the globe. Whether it’s heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt, storm surges or hurricanes and cyclones, we can expect to see a lot more flooding with a changing climate. ZS2’s focus is making sure that when flood waters recede, structures are still standing and safe. Our TechBoard actually gains strength when submerged in water, and maintains structural integrity after drying. With TechPanels there is no soggy drywall and insulation to remove, and mold can’t grow on our magnesium cement surfaces. We can’t stop the water from rising, but we can help make the remediation process faster and less costly.
With a changing climate comes extreme temperature swings. In fact, 2021 was the sixth-hottest year on record. Temperature records—both hot and cold—are being set around the globe with increasing frequency, spurring calls for better housing insulation. Not only do more efficient building envelopes keep people safe in extreme temperatures, they also reduce energy costs and consumption during those big temperature swings.
While the world works to adapt to a changing climate, shouldn’t our buildings do more to limit the cause of change in the first place? Right now the construction industry is responsible for 38% of global carbon emissions, with that number expected to continue rising. Traditional Portland cement is one of the worst offenders. In fact, if the cement industry was a country it would be the fourth largest emitter in the world. ZS2’s proprietary magnesium oxysulfate reduces carbon output by during production by a whopping 65%. What’s more, our scientists are working on advanced carbon capture and sequestration technologies that will actually turn our magnesium cement products into carbon sinks. In addition, every vehicle that has to bring materials to a construction site adds to the overall carbon footprint of a building. Building with TechPanels reduces transportation requirements by 85% when compared to tilt-up concrete!
Whether it’s high winds or increased snow loads, a changing climate is putting new strains on buildings. That’s where the power of pre manufactured building systems shine. In a highly controlled manufacturing facility with rigorous quality control, builders can have confidence that every TechPanel is as strong as the first. Our thorough third-party testing regimen has confirmed superior strength across the board for our wall systems with tests including freeze thaw, compression indentation and strength, shear bond, impact resistance, compressive load, transverse load, and racking load. In fact, TechPanels are so strong one of the testing machines failed before the panel!
