Minimise the CO₂ value of the building envelope and increase property value

The Internet of Façades (IoF) ID is a tag that can be read digitally and completely digitalises all façade units in a building. The stored information, which includes material data and maintenance history, allows the façade to be operated in a way that conserves resources.

The IoF ID offers key benefits to investors: it facilitates efficient cost control through precise planning for maintenance cycles and product upgrades. This not only extends the lifespan of systems, but also increases the value retention for a property. At the same time, the IoF ID makes it easier to recycle façade units by allowing the materials to be sorted by type and fed back specifically into the closed cycle.

When used in combination with Schüco Carbon Control, the IoF ID helps investors to secure the value and sustainability of their properties for the long term.By taking full control of the entire lifecycle of the façade – from installation through to re-use – the property not only becomes future-proof, but also more economically efficient.

Cradle to Cradle is a concept and certificate that aims to design materials and products in such a way that they can be completely recycled or fed back into biological or technical cycles. This differs from the standard "cradle to grave" approach, whereby products are disposed of once they have been used. Conversely, with Cradle to Cradle, the material quality remains virtually the same, which means that valuable resources can be conserved and carbon emissions reduced significantly. 

For investors, the Cradle to Cradle certificate is extremely important because it ensures that buildings and façade systems meet the EU specifications for the circular economy. At the same time, a new value is created in the building, as systems with Cradle-to-Cradle certification are the raw material reserves of the future. In order to obtain the certificate, all materials used within the system must be recyclable while retaining a virtually consistent quality.Not only does this help the environment, it also provides long-term economic benefits, as resources are saved and sustainable property projects are created. 

As part of Carbon Control, Schüco uses Cradle-to-Cradle-certified systems to meet the requirements of the circular economy, save CO₂ and simultaneously create high-quality, future-proof buildings.

With the EU taxonomy, the EU has set out a clear system for classifying sustainable economic activities. This taxonomy stipulates which economic activities are seen as ecologically sustainable, helping investors, companies and financial institutions to make sound decisions. An economic activity is classified as sustainable when it makes significant contributions to the EU climate objectives, such as the reduction of carbon emissions or promotion of the circular economy.

The EU taxonomy defines six main environmental objectives: climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, the sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, the transition to a circular economy, pollution prevention and control, and the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems. An economic activity is classified as sustainable when it supports at least one of these objectives without significantly impairing the other objectives. This system provides investors with clarity on which investments will be environmentally friendly over the long term and make economic sense.

As part of Carbon Control, Schüco supports compliance with these criteria by developing sustainable systems which meet both the EU's climate objectives and the requirements of the circular economy.

BREEAM stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. It is a recognised, extensive assessment system for sustainability in buildings that has been used since 1990. BREEAM assesses buildings against various criteria such as energy and water consumption, construction method and materials, the health and comfort of users, and the ecological impact of a building in each phase of life. In the process, it identifies areas for improvement in order to further optimise the carbon footprint of properties. 

BREEAM certification is of particular value to investors as it is a reliable indicator of the sustainability of a building. Not only does it make a building more attractive to environmentally conscious tenants and buyers, but can also lead to lower operating costs and higher returns in the long term. Through Carbon Control, Schüco supports sustainable construction projects that meet the strict BREEAM requirements and offers systems that help to reduce carbon footprints and conserve resources.

The abbreviation EPD stands for Environmental Product Declaration. An EPD is an important, standardised document for architects that lists the environmental properties of a particular construction material in the form of data. Ideally, the entire lifecycle of the material is considered – from raw material extraction and production through to use and disposal. This data is based on the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of the material as well as the construction.

This information is used to make an ecological assessment and certification of the building, which offers architects and developers a solid basis for making sustainable decisions. In the construction industry, EPDs are a valuable tool for clearly assessing the environmental impact of materials.At Schüco, EPDs are an essential component of Carbon Control, which help to clearly map the carbon footprint of a building.