Features and Benefits of Extruded Aluminum

The qualities inherent in extruded aluminum profiles also offer freedom, versatility, and reliability to designers and engineers in all market sectors, from building and construction to transportation to engineered products, such as consumer goods.

Why should extruded aluminum be used over other materials and processes? See the Aluminum Overview section of this website for details on the numerous features and benefits that satisfy a range of performance criteria unmatched by other materials and processes, including time- and cost-efficiencies, process repeatability, as well as sustainability. See a materials comparison chart showing properties of extruded aluminum and how it performs against competing materials.

Recyclable, Sustainable, Versatile: Extruded aluminum's inherent green attributes.

What exactly does it mean to be green? For a material or product to be considered green, it should have low impact on the environment and therefore favor environmentalism—the practice of protecting and conserving the natural environment and its resources. Aluminum is one such material.

What makes aluminum a green material? Aluminum is recyclable, sustainable, and versatile; three key qualities for any material being used to construct a green building. Historically, aluminum has proven to be one of the most important materials in successful recycling programs. Aluminum offers high scrap value, widespread consumer acceptance, and aluminum recycling enjoys significant industry support. In addition to recyclability, other eco-friendly qualities that aluminum touts while meeting green building requirements include its light weight-to-strength ratio, which allows for the reduction in weight of materials, and its extrudability, which accommodates off-site fabrication.

What is the green building movement? From site location, design, and construction to operation, maintenance, and removal, the goals of the green building industry strive to increase efficiency in the use of resources while reducing impact on people's health and the environment.

Aluminum is Green Logo Files and Usage Guidelines

In support of this effort, AEC has developed a stylish, high-profile logo to promote the green benefits of aluminum and offers the logo for use in the industry and related fields.

Taking the LEED in the green building movement. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system, which provides a range of standards used to measure, promote, and stimulate environmentally sustainable construction. There are six major areas that are measured using a point system: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation and design processes. Depending on the total number of points awarded, a building may be certified in one of four categories: Certified (26 - 32 points), Silver (33 - 38 points), Gold (39 - 51 points), or Platinum (52 - 69 points).

How does the extrusion process fit into the green building movement? The Aluminum Extruders Council acknowledges the use of extruded aluminum as an environmentally responsible approach within the burgeoning green building industry and in the manufacture of innovative products and equipment used to harness alternative energy resources. The sustainable benefits of using aluminum extrusions within the commercial building and construction sector are many, as illustrated in the following articles:

Sustainable Aluminum: Essential to Building a Greener Skyline

Green Power: Aluminum Extrusions Support Solar Technology

What Earth-friendly structures are made with aluminum? There are numerous Earth-friendly structures that are made with aluminum. Two worth noting are Nevada Solar One—the enormous 64-megawatt Solar Thermal Electric Generating Plant located in Boulder City, Nevada, and 111 S. Wacker Drive located in Chicago, Illinois, downtown Loop area, which is detailed in the Green Building Aluminum Extrusion Showcase.

Aluminum: The Material of Choice for a Greener World
Aluminum's inherently sustainable characteristics combined with the extrusion process make extruded aluminum the green building industry's material of choice for now and the future. For a more detailed look at design considerations and material specifications, see the Aluminum Extrusion Manual, available for purchase in the Publications section of this website.