Contents Sustainability Introduced Health & Safety and MSDS Third Party Environmental Assessment - ecospecifier Recycled Content Reduction in Waste Embodied Energy Specific Heat Thermal Conductance and Resistance Green Building Council Functionality Future   Green USG   Sustainability Introduced Many factors need to be considered in evaluating the true physical, social and economic sustainability of building materials. The following detail will assist in assessing USG Powerscape products, and will be expanded from time to time as further testing is completed and additional information becomes available. Additional detail is included in the USG Powerscape Health brochure on pages 16 and 17. Health and Safety The installers and occupiers friend. All USG Powerscape wall and ceiling linings and floor underlay substrates are free from known health risks associated with asbestos, synthetic mineral fibre, respirable crystalline silica, and formaldehyde. MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) are available on the literature resources page. Third Party Environmental Assessment - ecospecifier Detailed ecological and/or health information is available at www.ecospecifier.org: USG Powerscape Health (previously called Distinction), Powerscape Go-Between and Powerscape Peace Timber.      Recycled Content When USG Powerscape linings are used on site they generate much lower quantities of construction waste because all off cuts can be recycled on site. Through being able to be tapered on site off cuts can still be used in construction without having to resort to butt-end (wide set) and weakened jointing practices. During original manufacture the recycled content of physical input materials is 95% or greater. This recycled content is independently certified by Scientific Certification Systems, the leading independent certifier in the USA. This listing is shown under the brand Fiberock, which is the USA brand for products made from this technology. The manufacturing process recycles almost all production process edge trim and waste materials, ensuring a very high level of utilisation of raw materials. Process water is also extensively recycled. Any further manufacturing plants that are built, depending primarily on their location, may or may not be able to economically access recycled gypsum (due to the cost and embodied energy associated with the distance it must be shipped). Considerable advance notice will be provided through this page if the recycled content of future supply will be reduced below 95% due to such a change. Reduction in Waste With plasterboard, typically up to 15% of purchased product ends up not being used for the intended lining purpose. This is because most plasterboard off cuts, due to lack of taper edges, are not useable unless butt-end wide set jointing is acceptable. Off cuts of USG Powerscape Linings can be easily tapered on site allowing these to be used in subsequent stages of the lining work. Coupled with care in sheet and framing set out, and in some cases with the occasional use of back blocked joints, in many projects almost all purchased product can be used for the intended lining purpose. Some fibre cement off cuts can be theoretically tapered, however the abrasiveness of this material and its dust characteristics mean that this process is not frequently carried out. Again high waste levels to landfill often result. The best use for USG Powerscape interior linings is for the lining job it is purchased for. With this outstanding site sawing and taper formation characteristics it is simply too good to waste, and does not need to be. USG Powerscape linings delivers substantial reductions in waste logistics costs, and in dumping or recycling fees. Embodied Energy (see USG Powerscape Health brochure for additional detail, page 16-17, including on a m2 per use basis) The embodied energy in USG Powerscape products is very low, at approximately 5.5 MJ / kg (including delivery to export port). An additional approximately 2.5 MJ / kg of energy is being used temporarily for international shipping whilst local markets become sufficiently established to support a regional manufacturing facility close to market. This compares with plasterboard at around 5.5 MJ/kg ex plant (including sea freight of gypsum raw material as occurs in most instances in local regional markets). Other building products typically have much higher embodied energy, such as glass (~ 20), plastics (~15+), steel (~30), and aluminium (~200). Specific Heat Specific heat for USG Powerscape products is approximately 1.1 kJ / kg, indicating that the material is good for use on floors and walls to store day time sun energy, for release overnight. Thermal Conductance, and Resistance Thermal conductance U, is typically between 14 and 15 W / m2K for 13mm product, between 11 and 14 for 16mm product, and between 18 and 24 for 10mm product. Thermal Resistance R, is the inverse of U. Wall insulation should be approached in the same way as is used for normal plasterboard cavity wall systems. Both plasterboard and USG Powerscape linings will achieve very similar results. Wall thermal insulation is predominantly and effectively achieved by the wall air cavity and any included insulation, rather than by the lining materials. Green Building Council Parties involved in bringing USG Powerscape products to market are strong supporters of the Green Building Council: Powerscape's owner, USG Corporation, is a full charter member of the USA Green Building Council in recognition of their role in the founding of this organisation since 1993; Powerscape Pty Ltd, through USG Australasia, is a member of the Green Building Council of Australia. When considering the use of USG Powerscape wall linings and floor underlays in projects being evaluated under Green Building Council, or other similar systems, consideration should be given to seeking points or recognition as a result of: Certified 95% recycled content; Resistance to toxic mould formation; Freedom from health risks associated with respirable crystalline silica; formaldehyde and other harmful materials; Reduced off cut waste from site; Additional information to assist is available on page 19 of the USG Powerscape Health brochure. Functionality The manufacturing process transforms both post-consumer and post-industrial waste streams into arguably one of the most advanced technology lining and floor underlay materials available today. These products have many advanced features for occupiers, installers, and building owners which are discussed further in the product pages on this website, and in the downloadable brochures in literature resources. Future USG Powerscape lining and floor underlay products are already environmental leaders and products of choice. Further environmental services such as site-waste return for reuse will be evaluated for introduction in high volume usage markets.