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How do louvres contribute to sustainable construction?

Louvres systems can help meet sustainability certifications by facilitating airflow and reducing noise disruption.

Topics covered:

  • How passive ventilation contributes to energy reduction.
  • How material and coating selections can contribute to longevity and sustainability.
  • The role of Life Cycle Assessments in specifying sustainable louvres.
  • The sustainable certifications that louvres can help achieve.

Louvres are often overlooked in environmental design, yet they play a vital role in supporting passive ventilation and reducing noise pollution, helping projects meet sustainability certifications such as BREEAM and WELL.

What are common sustainability terms used in construction?

Passive Ventilation and Energy Reduction

Effective ventilation louvres facilitate the flow of fresh air and lower pressure drop, which reduces the load on HVAC machinery, enabling fans to use less energy and cutting both operational energy use and carbon emissions.

Material Selection and Coatings

Material and coating selection also play a key role in specifying sustainable acoustic louvres. Aluminium louvres with a high recycled content can reduce embodied carbon. Regarding coatings, durable powder-coated finishes extend the service life up to a minimum of 25 years, and anodised finishes provide robust protection against corrosion in coastal or industrial environments, meaning fewer replacements and less waste over the building’s life cycle.

Life cycle assessments (LCA) increasingly influence procurement decisions, and acoustic louvres that demonstrate long-term durability and recyclability can contribute positively to a building’s environmental product declarations (EPDs).

What are life cycle assessments?

Certifications

When specified and installed correctly, louvres can help projects achieve credits in the following sustainability frameworks.

  • BREEAM: Credits available under categories such as Health and Wellbeing (ventilation, acoustic comfort) and Pollution (noise control).
  • WELL Building Standard: Emphasises air quality and acoustic comfort as part of creating healthier environments for occupants.
By selecting high-performance, durable acoustic louvres early in the design process, architects can contribute to a project’s environmental and social sustainability.