The concept of a gutter dates back to Pompeii, Italy, around the 8th century B.C. In the ancient city of Campani, gargoyles were designed to direct water away from buildings. Lion heads and birds have been used as objects over history to throw water away from the building. Today gutters can be made from many different types of materials; stone, aluminum, PVC, concrete, wood, steel and copper.
According to David Hunt from Revere Copper Products, Inc, “More than 95% of U.S. architectural copper’s content is recycled materials”. Making gutters or other building materials out of recycled copper limits the manufacturing process of new copper. New mining processes for copper use “solvent extraction and electrowinning to mine and produce copper.” This skips the smelting step which reduces sulfur emissions into the environment.
Copper is found in many things on earth; rocks, soil, plants, and in the ocean clay and seaweed. Copper is also present in the sun.
Copper is critical to our building ecosystem. For example, in the stone materials that are used in our buildings, the soil that supports our foundations, to the oceans that absorb our CO2, to the plants, fish, animals that we eat; to the sunlight that heats and lights our day. The drainage of water back into the ground is important to the ecosystem of our drinking water. This water needs to be diverted from the building so it doesn't harm the materials which can shorten the life of the building materials. If the water is not properly diverted from the building mold can grow which can cause health issues.
Since copper can be recycled over and over, it has an endless cycle and is sustainable. It can be re-melted and re-cast to make new products. Because the architectural specification on copper from Revere Copper recommends water to clean copper without using soap or detergents, no harm will be done to the environment from cleaning products. Linda Cobb, the “Queen of Clean,” recommends lemon juice and salt also as environmentally friendly cleaning products for copper.
Gutters are important to divert water to a cistern, stream, lake or ocean. Over saturation of the soil can be controlled by using gutters which can limit erosion problems of our soil.
In addition to being sustainable, copper can be toxic to human and to marine life. Drinking water can become toxic if there is too much copper in it. Fish are also affected if there is too much copper in the water, their gills, liver, kidneys and nervous system can be damaged.
Copper turns green through an oxidation process which adds to the beauty of the architectural component. Copper is a beautiful, sustainable material that can be shaped into many building components.
“Architectural Guide Specification”, Revere Copper Products, Inc. <http://www.reverecopper.com/images/arch/classicCopper.pdf> (9March 2007).
Cobb, Linda. Taking Dirty with the Queen of Clean, Pocket Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1998.
Encyclopedia Britannica, 14th ed .S.V. “ Copper”
Encyclopedia Britannica. "copper". (9 March 2007).<http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9026194>.
Encyclopedia Britannica. “copper processing". (9 March 2007).<http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9110661>.
Encyclopedia Britannica, 14th ed .S.V. “ Gargoyle”
Encyclopedia Britannica, 14th ed .S.V. “ Gutter”
Encyclopedia Britannica. “Mining ". (9 March 2007). <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9114907>.
Encyclopedia Britannica. “oxidation–reduction reaction ". (9 March 2007).<http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-49299>.
Encyclopedia Britannica, 14th ed .S.V. “ Pompeii”
Encyclopedia Britannica. “recycling". (9March 2007).<http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9051374>.
Hunt, David, “Beautiful and Green”, <http://www.reverecopper.com/images/beautiful.pdf>, (9 March 2007). |
