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Building Integrated Photovoltaics produce clean, renewable solar power while reducing embodied carbon costs.

Every week, the global tally of newly completed buildings equals the size of Paris. It’s a staggering figure, and only the opening salvo in a recent report outlining the built environment’s carbon footprint. All that construction accounts for an estimated 38 per cent of global C02 emissions, with concrete alone making up roughly eight per cent of all carbon output.

Over the decades-long lifespan of a building, the C02 impacts of construction are often equal to — and sometimes greater than — the carbon output of heating, cooling and mechanical systems. And while a much-needed emphasis on energy efficiency is now creating greener buildings, the upfront climate costs of construction must become an equally urgent priority. For architects, developers and builders, it’s an urgent call to action: A carbon-sensitive approach to construction necessitates both operational efficiency and reduced embodied energy.

Mitrex BIPV solar windows.

Fortunately, forward-thinking manufacturers are leading the way with an increasingly holistic approach. Canada’s Mitrex is a case in point. The Toronto-based company is a global pioneer in Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), bringing renewable, carbon-free solar energy to any setting. From elegant solar cladding and balcony railings to window, roof and siding installations, Mitrex’s BIPV solutions are equally well-suited to new and retrofitted buildings as well as a diverse range of urban sites like sidewalks and highway barriers.

Mitrex BIPV solar cladding.

Combining the structural strength of concrete with the lightness of a precision-engineered aluminum honeycomb structure, the durable BIPV building envelope (which incorporates a solar cell between the aluminum and the finish material) offers a wide range of facing designs, including lifelike wood, brick, marble and porcelain patterns and elegant solid colours.

Diagram of Mitrex Solar Cladding
1
2
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1Customizable Facing

2Solar Cell

3Aluminum Honeycomb

Solar cladding by Mitrex
Mitrex Expands the Aesthetic Possibilities of Solar Cladding
Unparalleled architectural versatility meets carbon-free power generation with innovative Building-Integrated Photovoltaics.

Similarly, Mitrex’s windows and solar railings feature solar cells between two layers of high-performance tempered glass, allowing for a seamlessly invisible installation — or a bold pattern.

Building Integrated Photovoltaics produce clean, renewable solar power while reducing embodied carbon costs.
Mitrex BIPV solar railings.

By transforming the built environment into a source of clean renewable, energy, Mitrex’s BIPV system reduces reliance on a high-carbon power grid. It’s a recipe for exceptionally efficient buildings and — just as importantly — one that reduces upfront carbon costs compared to traditional building materials. In performance and embodied energy, Mitrex’s durable, long-lasting and lightweight materials are a sustainable alternative to concrete, from the first day of construction to decades down the line.

Building Integrated Photovoltaics produce clean, renewable solar power while reducing embodied carbon costs.
Mitrex BIPV solar railing.

This content was published by Azure on behalf of Mitrex.

Embodied Carbon, Energy Efficiency: Mitrex Targets Holistic Sustainability

Building Integrated Photovoltaics produce clean, renewable solar power while reducing embodied carbon costs.

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