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Metropolis Editors, Natural Habitat, sustainability, sustainable architecture

METROPOLIS Introduces Natural Habitat, a Sustainable Homes Video Series

The series debuts with a tour of a tranquil upstate New York retreat designed with Passive House principles.

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March 27, 2024

3 Building Products that Balance Resilience and Responsibility 

From windows to roofing, these three products can withstand extreme heat, winds, UV exposure, among other natural threats.

By: Metropolis Editors

An estimated 40 percent of all Americans live in coastal counties today—and they are already facing increased risks, as reported by the Fifth National Climate Assessment published last November. Architects, engineers, and builders need to prioritize climate adaptation but needn’t make the false trade-off between durability and resilience on one hand and sustainable materials on the other. Here are three options to help. 

ABOVE IMAGE:

IMPERVIA DURACAST WINDOWS 

PELLA

Launched last fall, the windows feature strong fiberglass frames tested to withstand extreme heat, subzero cold, high UV ray exposure, and coastal environments. In addition, all vent sizes and glass types are certified for wind zone 2 and large missile rating C, making the Impervia Duracast windows ideal for commercial and residential buildings where weather resistance is a priority.

pella.com 

photograph of a roof

COASTALUME ROOFING

 U.S. STEEL AND DUPONT

U.S. Steel’s Galvalume material and DuPont’s Tedlar PVF film barrier come together in Coastalume, a maintenance-free roofing solution that is strong and self-healing, and can withstand saltwater corrosion, UV damage, cracking, and impact. Ideal for coastal buildings, it meets the most stringent code requirements and comes in a wide variety of color and finish options.

ussteel.com | dupont.com 

product against a white background

STORM-RESISTANT AND EXTREME WEATHER LOUVERS 

CONSTRUCTION SPECIALTIES 

The RS-5215 and RS-5225 louvers from Construction Specialties are engineered to provide storm resistance despite having horizontal blades so that architects need not sacrifice continuous sight lines for performance. The former is suited to lower-level applications, while the latter is best for higher-level applications. For areas prone to hurricanes or typhoons, the DC-5804 Extreme Weather Louvers are Miami-Dade County–certified.

c-sgroup.com

Photography: COURTESY OF THE MANUFACTURERS

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