Climate Resilience

Building for a changing climate. Adapting to a more volatile climate means traditional ways of building are not just inadequate. They’re also irresponsible.

We Need to Rethink How We Build.

The construction industry is currently at a crossroads due to the undeniable impacts of a changing climate. The consequences, ranging from more frequent and severe weather events to extreme temperatures, necessitate an urgent shift in construction practices and building materials. Communities deserve construction solutions that are both affordable to build and affordable to live.

Amid a housing crisis, it’s essential that new homes are built to withstand elements like wind, water, fire, and heat. This approach isn’t just ethical—it’s economical. Homes that require frequent repairs or rebuilding after predictable disasters are ultimately the most costly. By focusing on resilience, we can ensure that homes are safe, secure, and economically viable for the long term.

Climate resilience is about enabling communities and structures to anticipate, recover from, and adapt to adverse climate impacts. This imperative underscores the urgent need for the construction industry to transition from traditional, unsustainable methods to practices that ensure long-term sustainability and responsibility.

Traditional is Not Sustainable

The building and construction sector are responsible for…

160 million tons of non-industrial waste generation a year

23% contribution to air pollution

40% of drinking pollution

25% of the worlds usage of virgin wood per year

This urgency is accentuated by the challenge presented by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), revealing that the construction industry accounts for a staggering 40% of worldwide energy usage.

Furthermore, experts project an 85% growth in global construction output by 2030, heightening the imperative for a sustainable and resilient approach to construction. Traditional construction methods, characterized by extended timelines, skilled labor shortages, quality issues, and a substantial environmental footprint, are no longer tenable in the face of these pressing challenges.

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.

4.5 million homes are at risk in the US alone

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.

1-hour fire rating
Non combustible sheathing and cladding
WUI Certified

Up to 90% of natural disasters are floods

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.

Water resistant
Maintains strength after submersion
Mold, mildew and fungus resistant

More than 5 million people die each year from excessive heat or cold

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.

R30 and R40 attainable with TechPanel
Average of 50% reduction in energy consumption

The construction industry’s contribution to CO2 emissions has reached all-time highs

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!

1/3 the CO2 of traditional cement
85% reduction in transportation cost and volume
55% faster. Quicker builds mean fewer emissions

Extreme climate events call for stronger solutions

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!

Precision manufacturing and quality control