Photo courtesy of Armstrong World Industries
Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based interior building products maker Armstrong World Industries says its new Ultima Low Embodied Carbon (Ultima LEC) ceiling panels offer customers the lowest embodied carbon mineral fiber acoustical ceiling panels available.
Among the decarbonization techniques attached to Ultima LEC is that they are made from 54 percent recycled content. Additionally, the panels can be recycled through the Armstrong Ceilings Recycling Program at the end of their useful life.
“Compared to standard Armstrong Ultima ceiling panels, Ultima LEC delivers a 43 percent reduction in embodied carbon utilizing new technology that includes sustainably sourced, wood-generated biochar,” the company says.
Biochar is a byproduct that can arise from the pyrolysis of biomass or waste materials in an oxygen-deprived environment. The material is considered carbon-rich and can be used as a charcoal substitute or as a soil amendment that can contribute to enhanced plant growth, increased crop yields or improved soil quality.
Ultima LEC panels consist of U.S. Department of Agriculture-verified 100 percent bio-based content.
The company says the use of Ultima LEC ceilings can help property owners and contractors attain U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Material and Resources and Indoor Environmental Quality credits.
The product comes with a third-party verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) optimization summary to help verify it contributes to carbon reduction.
“We couldn’t imagine a more perfect way to uphold the mission of Earth Day than by introducing Ultima Low Embodied Carbon ceiling panels to demonstrate our commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of our ceilings,” says Shannon Weir, director of mineral fiber product management at Armstrong.
“Embodied carbon reduction is being discussed more and more in the built environment and sometimes is required in project specifications. Ultima Low Embodied Carbon ceiling panels make it simple to specify and remain true to the design vision while supporting our customers’ sustainability goals.”
