Over the last couple of years, we have been actively involved in a series of sustainable projects.
Sustainability has remained a hot topic in the construction industry in recent years following the government’s Net Zero strategy which outlines plans to decarbonise all sectors of the UK economy by 2050.
Even though 2050 is a while away, decarbonisation doesn’t take place overnight so it’s important to start making the steps towards sustainability now rather than later. Maple have already implemented sustainable practices within our internal processes which you can read about in our article ‘
Sustainability in Construction: From Complexity to Simplicity’.
Externally, our products are being installed on net zero and Passivhaus builds all over the UK, helping to set new sustainable standards for the future of construction.
Last year, Maple installed brise soleil systems onto a net zero office building at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus.
Zenith® brise soleil blades were installed onto the south and southeast elevations to reduce solar glare from entering the series of glazed windows.
A combination of perforated and solid panels also framed the smaller windows on the southwest and east faces. Depending on the placement and orientation, perforated panels can provide an effective brise soleil solution, as they allow light to filter through while still reducing solar glare.
Maple’s products contribute to the building’s net zero status as they reduce the need for internal cooling systems and energy conversion.
Maple are currently in the process of completing our work on Green Technology Centre which has also been designed to be a net zero build.
Aspect® rainscreen cladding is being installed alongside
Skyvane® brise soleil both of which will actively contribute to the building’s sustainable status. Aspect® system uses patented insulation-fix technology and advanced
eClips® support system to reduce thermal bridging and improve U-values, thereby reducing the demand for heating systems. Skyvane® provides shading which cuts down heat gain caused by solar glare and therefore limits the need for internal cooling.
Not to mention, the new facility at Peterborough College will be providing a curriculum specialising in sustainable construction meaning that it’ll not only be setting a precedent in terms of its design, but also with its purpose.
Wester Hailes High School is our most recent Passivhaus project. Similarly to Green Technology Centre, it will feature Aspect® rainscreen system and Skyvvane® brise soleil in its sustainable design.
The build-up of eClips® support system not only reduces thermal bridging, but it also further helps achieve sustainability goals through incorporating reusable helping hand brackets that can be recycled after use.
This project will also feature Maple’s
Vector® fins which will act as an attractive architectural feature and account for lower sun rays that traditional, horizontal brise soleil can’t cover.
Our work on the University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus is without doubt our most recognised sustainable project to date. Maple installed Aspect® rainscreen façade system onto three new accommodation blocks which has since been named the largest low-carbon student accommodation development in the UK.
Aspect® rainscreen system encompasses the eClips® support system which uses higher load-bearing brackets with increased thermal specification. This means that fewer brackets are required and therefore fewer penetrations are made, resulting in reduced costs, installation time, and thermal conductivity of the subframe. In fact, thanks to our Aspect® system, the best part of 50,000 penetrations were saved.
UWE was recently recognised at the
UK & Ireland Green Gown Awards which is an organisation that celebrates sustainability initiatives in the higher education sector.