Window Glazing 101

Sustainable aspirations are undermined by compromise

This week, according to housing minister Grant Shapps at least, was "an historic turning point" in the UK's drive to slash carbon emissions and tackle climate change. New government standards, unveiled by Shapps, aim to ensure that every home built after 2016 be "zero carbon".

This week, according to housing minister Grant Shapps at least, was "an historic turning point" in the UK's drive to slash carbon emissions and tackle climate change. New government standards, unveiled by Shapps, aim to ensure that every home built after 2016 be "zero carbon".

Civil engineers have to take the lead role in this. Their mission - to champion sustainability and sustainable construction is defined by the ICE "as meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of tomorrow". But can they deliver? The evidence says no.

The UK has already tried - and failed - to deliver truly sustainable, zero-carbon communities. The ICE cites Bedzed , a 100 home development in the London borough of Sutton as "a sustainable, attractive and affordable housing community in south east England". Unfortunately the developer is more honest, and confesses that it is not.

Bedzed failure

A review of the scheme carried out in 2007 concluded that the ecological footprint of the "average" Bedzed resident is 4.67 global hectares, equivalent to needing 2.6 planets of resources if everyone in the world lived like this. A keen resident, who made significant efforts to reduce their impact, could achieve an ecological footprint of three global hectares, or 1.7 planets.

"While this is a significant decrease in ecological footprint compared to the UK average, it is still not sustainable," it concludes.

Which is pretty damning, given the efforts that went in to the scheme.

"Civil engineers worked to reduce the energy demands of 100 homes and 2,500m2 of commercial space," says the ICE. "They then met the reduced demand for energy with renewable resources including passive solar heating and wood-fuelled combined heat and power (CHP).

"While BedZED's tenants can lead sustainable and energy-efficient lifestyles by using local resources, recycling and by reducing water consumption and transport, engineers have used other techniques to reduce the amount of energy they require. Super insulation, high-performance glazing, air-tight details and natural ventilation that also recovers heat were used," it says. "A reed-bed based 'living machine' was created to treat sewage and recycle water to underground tanks where it is stored with collected rainwater for toilet flushing. Photovoltaic cells on each block produce electricity to power 40 electric cars used by tenants.

Ceramic Glazing 101

The glazing process is also used on building materials so they can withstand the elements. An ancient example of glazed building materials is found in China. Glazed bricks were used to create the Iron Pagoda in 1049 CE.

A concern when choosing ceramic glazes is the toxicity, especially when working with children. Most schools schools non-toxic brands such as Amaco glazes to ensure children are safe when they work with clay. Glazes should be lead-free and comply with all FDA guidelines. Usually glazing techniques are taught to older children in grades 7 to 12 with the strict supervision of an experienced adult. Younger children can be easily harmed when they work with glazes and firing so these techniques are typically reserved for children over 11 years old.

Another worry for educators and parents is the type of clay used in a school setting. Children of all ages can learn about pottery by working with clay in their hands but even clay can contain certain toxic elements. Schools prefer to use American art clay because it does not contain New York State talc for maximum safety in classrooms and studios. Children should use talc-free clay or clay make with Texas talc approved by the Art & Craft Materials Institute (ACMI).

ACMI sets industry standards for the safe manufacturing and labeling of lead-free glazes for ceramics. Often you will find Amaco glaze used in a classroom setting because they currently make more than 600 lead-free glazes, giving educators more creative teaching options. Using a combination of toxic-free clay and glaze ensures the safest possible experience for children learning about pottery.

Ceramic glazes may be in a dry or liquid form. Dry glaze is applied over the entire surface of the clay body by dry dusting. When using liquid glaze, the pieces can be dipped right into the glaze. Other options with liquid glaze include pouring the glaze over the creation, brushing it onto the piece or spraying it on with an airbrush or other similar tool.

When you decorate the piece under the ceramic glazing, it is referred to as underglaze. The blue and white porcelain made in China, Japan, England and the Netherlands are examples of underglazing. When you decorate a piece on top of a layer of glazing, it is called overglaze. Artists use overglazing to create glassy, decorative pieces.

Ceramic Glazing 101

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