Sustainable Building Practices & Operable Partitions
A rising trend in the construction industry is a demand for sustainable building practices. This involves designing and constructing projects that are environmentally responsible and resource efficient. We have all heard about energy-efficient lightbulbs, etc. Other elements include the use of renewable energy sources, recycled materials or environmentally friendly materials, water conservation systems, waste reduction or zero waste practices.
This trend is nothing new. Back in the '90s, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) was founded as a certification program to help projects become greener. The program has its faults, but it helped lay the groundwork for the sustainable building practices we see today.
How does this tie into operable walls?
Operable walls naturally fit into these best practices. The most obvious way is with the flexibility that these movable walls provide. Operable walls allow buildings to be used for multiple functions (e.g., a large hall converted into smaller meeting rooms), reducing the need for additional square footage.
Operable walls also help positively further the longevity of buildings. By allowing spaces to evolve with occupant needs, operable walls help keep buildings useful for longer, delaying the need for major renovations or rebuilds. Delaying the need for major rebuilds can also be facilitated by regular service. An operable partition that has had regular maintenance can last over twenty years. We at Continental Partition Systems have worked on walls that were over thirty years old.
Building off from the adaptability and longevity of operable walls, another great way that folding panel partitions contributes to sustainable building practices is through their energy efficiency. By dividing spaces as needed, heating and cooling loads can be localized. Instead of conditioning an entire large area, HVAC systems can serve only the occupied portion, reducing energy consumption. In addition, certain operable walls (e.g., with glazed panels) can help balance natural light distribution while maintaining acoustic and visual separation.
When flexibility and energy efficiency come together, rooms that have been partitioned off into smaller rooms allow for more energy savings. Many operable walls are designed with soundproofing, which reduces the need for energy-intensive electronic sound-masking systems.
Finally, operable walls are made of materials that contain some recycled content and due to their sealed state, they do not provide health hazards in cases of inhalation, ingestion or contact. Not only that, but some parts inside operable walls can also be reused or recycled. This is conducive to good indoor environmental quality* and reusability.
Operable walls support sustainability by extending building lifespans, reducing construction waste, optimizing space and energy use, and improving occupant comfort, all of which align with green building best practices.
*operable walls alone cannot make indoor environmental quality better. When in its original manufactured state, it will not add to the worsening. Indoor environmental quality is also influenced by the other materials that make up a room or building.
Good news for those looking to practice sustainable building. Continental Partition Systems is part of the Texas PACE trained service provider. PACE stands for Property Assessed Clean Energy. It's a financial tool that incentivizes Texas’ property owners to upgrade facility infrastructure with little or no capital outlay. Approved by State legislation and established by local governments, TX-PACE programs enable owners to lower their operating costs and use the savings to pay for eligible water conservation, energy efficiency, resiliency, and distributed generation projects. Owners gain access to private, affordable, long-term (typically 20-30 years) financing that is not available through traditional funding avenues.
Go Back This trend is nothing new. Back in the '90s, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) was founded as a certification program to help projects become greener. The program has its faults, but it helped lay the groundwork for the sustainable building practices we see today.
How does this tie into operable walls?
Operable walls naturally fit into these best practices. The most obvious way is with the flexibility that these movable walls provide. Operable walls allow buildings to be used for multiple functions (e.g., a large hall converted into smaller meeting rooms), reducing the need for additional square footage.
Operable walls also help positively further the longevity of buildings. By allowing spaces to evolve with occupant needs, operable walls help keep buildings useful for longer, delaying the need for major renovations or rebuilds. Delaying the need for major rebuilds can also be facilitated by regular service. An operable partition that has had regular maintenance can last over twenty years. We at Continental Partition Systems have worked on walls that were over thirty years old.
Building off from the adaptability and longevity of operable walls, another great way that folding panel partitions contributes to sustainable building practices is through their energy efficiency. By dividing spaces as needed, heating and cooling loads can be localized. Instead of conditioning an entire large area, HVAC systems can serve only the occupied portion, reducing energy consumption. In addition, certain operable walls (e.g., with glazed panels) can help balance natural light distribution while maintaining acoustic and visual separation.
When flexibility and energy efficiency come together, rooms that have been partitioned off into smaller rooms allow for more energy savings. Many operable walls are designed with soundproofing, which reduces the need for energy-intensive electronic sound-masking systems.
Finally, operable walls are made of materials that contain some recycled content and due to their sealed state, they do not provide health hazards in cases of inhalation, ingestion or contact. Not only that, but some parts inside operable walls can also be reused or recycled. This is conducive to good indoor environmental quality* and reusability.
Operable walls support sustainability by extending building lifespans, reducing construction waste, optimizing space and energy use, and improving occupant comfort, all of which align with green building best practices.
*operable walls alone cannot make indoor environmental quality better. When in its original manufactured state, it will not add to the worsening. Indoor environmental quality is also influenced by the other materials that make up a room or building.
Good news for those looking to practice sustainable building. Continental Partition Systems is part of the Texas PACE trained service provider. PACE stands for Property Assessed Clean Energy. It's a financial tool that incentivizes Texas’ property owners to upgrade facility infrastructure with little or no capital outlay. Approved by State legislation and established by local governments, TX-PACE programs enable owners to lower their operating costs and use the savings to pay for eligible water conservation, energy efficiency, resiliency, and distributed generation projects. Owners gain access to private, affordable, long-term (typically 20-30 years) financing that is not available through traditional funding avenues.