ArcWest Architects recently participated in the live Webinar Course hosted by GreenCE, Inc which presented the green sustainable attributes of Concrete Masonry Units (CMU) when incorporated in Building Designs.
The continuing education course “Green Building Design with Concrete Masonry Units” outlined the following key qualities of CMU:
- Impact Resistant – Thereby resilient to natural disasters associated with weather storms, such as Hurricanes
- Fire Resistant – Optimal for Urban Sites
- Durable – Will hold up to long term use and wear
- Abuse Resistant – Great for tough building users, like children
- Natural Material – Low to V.O.C. promotes good indoor air quality
- Sound Absorption – Inherently reduces noise transmission
- Thermal Mass – Thermal Lag can potentially reduce energy costs by off-peak demand
The sustainable design goals are achievable that can assist a building project to become LEED certified with potential credit (points) for the following categories from the LEED rating system:
- Sustainable Sites
- Energy & Atmosphere
- Materials & Resources
- Innovation in Design
What ArcWest has learned: With the high performance characteristics listed above, the use of CMU in an architectural building project can significantly contribute to the sustainable design of timeless architecture. Further, buildings with CMU have an improved life cycle.