HydroTect
用自然的方法减少污染
HydroTect
Reducing Pollution The Natural Way

伙伴
Partners

Strategic Partnership with Alcoa, Inc., for new HYDROTECT™ Powered Aluminum Cladding Line

Alcoa has launched Reynobond® with EcoClean™, the first coil-coated architectural panel that helps clean itself and the air around it. This game-changing product was created by merging breakthrough innovations in science and design from Alcoa and Japanese manufacturer TOTO®.

Reynobond with EcoClean is an economically viable self-cleaning technology that reduces maintenance costs and helps with the decomposition of smog and other pollutants, from dirt to diesel fumes, which cling to building surfaces. In fact, 10,000 square feet of Reynobond with EcoClean has the approximate air cleansing power of 80 trees, enough cleaning power to offset the smog created by the pollution output of four cars every day.

Alcoa scientists developed a proprietary process that leverages patented HYDROTECT™ technology from TOTO to apply a titanium dioxide coating, called EcoClean, to the pre-painted aluminum surface of Reynobond. The result is an aluminum panel that, when combined with sunlight, acts as a catalyst to break down organic pollutants on its surface and in the air around it, like smog, into harmless matter which is then washed away by rainwater.

Last year, 80 billion square feet of commercial building space consumed roughly 20 percent of all energy in the U.S. economy. Thanks to strategic investments in R&D, Alcoa is fueling sustainable solutions and mitigating environmental challenges facing the building and construction industry by bringing Reynobond with EcoClean to market. This represents an important step forward in sustainable building design and will liiterally change the face - and facade - of the industry.

More information available at: www.ecoclean.com

工程
Projects

Although good design has become increasingly valued in our culture in the past few decades, from high-concept homegoods lines at Target to "starchitect" buildings headlining development in citites around the globe, a great deal of attention has also been paid to making our lifestyles on earth more sustainable. You've heard the term "green" used a lot, no doubt, but you might not have heard of some of the science behind it.

This business/environment balancing act started years ago with the development of the Life Cycle Assessment. One of the first of these was commissioned by Coca-Cola in 1969 to determine the impact of their container materials on the environment - starting at their manufacture and going all the way o disposal. As a result, Coke found ways to reclaim some of the more problematic materials in cans for recycling, which led to dramatic reductions in waste overall. It was a turning point of sorts for businesses interested in having a smaller environmental impact, because instead of just following government regulations on allowable waste at particular points in the manufacturing and distribution process, it took the entire life cycle of a product's development and use into account to assess the net affect. Over the years, these assessments have focused more on energy savings than on materials, and today they are an integral part of improving sustainability at corporations around the globe.

In another important market on the sustainability timeline, the US Green Building Council formed in 1993. They quickly went about researching current standards for sustainable building design and development, then worked to create their own system for defining and measuring it. This resulted in the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Pilot Project Program, LEED 1.0, which launched in 1998. In 2000, they debuted certification levels and standards - Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. And more recently, LEED 4.0 upgraded what the USGBC describes as "the world's premier benchmark for high-performance green buildings."

"Green" may be an overused buzzword, but sustainability is more than just a passing fad. And the ways that all corporations view the lifecycles of their products and the building of their headquarters and facilities says a lot about their values. At TOTO, we make sure that every step we take keeps People, the Planet and Water in mind. And that makes this earth a better place for us all.

结果
Results

Makes Surfaces Easier to Clean

Hydrotect surfaces are hydrophilic, attracting water, Hydroxyl group attracts water molecules, so water spreads to form a thin film under dirt, lifting it off of the surface. The dirt is easily removed with simple cleaning on interior surfaces, without the use of harsh chemicals, and by rainwater on exteriors.

Anti-microbial*

Activated Oxygen is generated in areas exposed to light. Active oxygen in conjunction with the anti-microbial metals, minimize bacteria that cause odor and stain in both dark or brightly lit areas.

Cleans the Air

Oxygen activated by Hydrotect improves air quality, reducing greenhouse gases and eliminating odors. Active oxygen reacts to remove pollutants from the air efficiently. In fact, a 10,000 ft2 area of exterior tiles can clean the air as effectively as an area of green land the size of four tennis courts.**

*EPA certification in progress. Data have not been evaluated and approved by EPA. **Based on TOTO's testing and calculations.

自然平衡
Natural Balance

How much rain falls around the world and what is the most effective plant for battling greenhouse gases?

The answers are an amazing 108 trillion tons1 of rain and the unassuming poplar tree2. Hydrotect harnesses rain as a natural resource for cleaning. In fact, with rain for exteriors or clean water for interiors, Hydrotect is virtually self-cleaning, elimanating harsh chemicals. Hydrotect also purifies the air by removing harmful pollutants nitrogen and sulfur oxides. In fact, a 10,000 square-foot areas of tiles can clean the air as effectively as an area of green land the size of four tennis courts3. Cleaning without interfering with the way you live, Hydrotect strikes a balance between eco-awareness and comfort.

1 Source: White Paper on Water Resources, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Thansport and Tourism in Japan, 2009.

2 Source: National Institute for Environmental Studies I Manual on Tree Planting for Air Purification, Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency of Japan (rev. version)

3 Based on internal TOTO calculations.

工作原理
How It Works

Just as plants harness light for photosynthesis in nature, Hydrotect nanotechnology does the same for man-made surfaces. An integrated part of the manufacturing process, Hydrotect uses nontoxic titanium dioxide (TiO2) in the glazing and coating process. It's invisible whether applied to tiles or glass or embedded in paint mixtures. And this photocatalyst initiates a reaction between oxygen and humidity in the presence of light, both outdoors in the sunlight and indoors under normal levels of UV light. The chemical reaction yields three results that keep interiors and exteriors clean, as well as improve the environment around us.

* EPA certification in progress. Data have not been evaluated and approved by EPA.

更好的世界
A Better World

What amazing technology can clean naturally with rain, purify the air and create more hygienic surfaces?

The answer is Hydrotect, an environmental cleaning technology that harnesses the power of light and water to clean surfaces of dirt and grime-automatically. It can be used effectively in numerous applications, from exterior walls and glass to interior walls and floors. Thanks to its antimicrobial*, anti-mold, and anti-odor capabilities, Hydrotect also helps you keep the air and the enviornment cleaner and healthier.

The results? Less of your time and money spent cleaning. Cleaner air. Enviornmentally responsible building practices. In short, a better world.

* EPA certification in progress. Data have not been evaluated and approved by EPA.