With the rising demands for reducing energy consumption in buildings, it has become necessary to look at energy consumption during construction.

Energy costs typically amount to 1-2 % of the contract sum for ordinary building work, assuming that neither the construction process nor the building site has been designed with energy considerations in mind. Typically, this is equivalent to 3-4 years’ heating in the finished building. In the case of low-energy construction, the period is even longer.

When planning construction, it is beneficial to take account of the seasons.

Consumption can probably be halved by suitable design of the construction process and construction site. With Altiflex, you are well on the way, as the system gives a significant CO2 reduction by means of lower energy consumption. Enclosure of the building plays a decisive part in preventing unnecessary waste of energy. Effective enclosure significantly reduces the inflow of damp air during building, meaning that the building can be dried out far quicker.

Effective enclosure also minimises heat losses in winter construction, as interim closures with Altiflex modules provide insulation similar to earlier types of double glazing. This is good for reducing energy consumption, but also for the work processes, which can be started up more quickly.

There are many different solutions for reducing consumption on building sites, and it is an obvious step to exploit these, both because these costs are totally unnecessary and because of the high CO2 penalties they incur.

There is a big difference in the heat losses for different closure methods. The following shows the U-value, an indication of heat loss.

There is a big difference in heat losses between different enclosure methods – the lower the U-value the better.

Energy savings using Altiflex provide not only financial but also environmental benefits.

Altiflex modules are reused from project to project and have a very long service life.

When, many years later, the modules are discarded, all aluminium is recycled for other purposes. There is thus minimal waste in the process, and during their lifespan the modules replace a large quantity of plastic and wood, etc., which would otherwise have been disposed of as waste.

Altiflex modules are made from lightweight materials.

By using aluminium instead of steel, a lower total weight is achieved, making the modules not only easier to handle, but also giving lower fuel costs for transport – and the associated good environmental properties.

Altiflex wishes to contribute to sustainable development, whether socially, financially or environmentally.

We feel very strongly that all work should be performed under decent working conditions. Consequently, we have selected a manufacturer who has signed up for the UN Global Compact’s 10 principles within human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption.

Further information about the Global Compact is available on www.unglobalcompact.org