The Copper Development Association Inc. (CDA) reports that while the metal is often used for sacred vessels, statuaries and decorations, its benefits run much deeper.
· A typical copper roof is expected to last for more than 50 years with little maintenance costs.
In many applications, copper contributes to achieving LEED credits by saving energy and reducing a building’s carbon footprint.
· For institutions looking to become more environmentally friendly, copper is one of the most easily recycled materials available, the CDA notes. Many copper-containing building products have high recycled content, often exceeding 80 %.
St. Aldabert
· In many applications, copper contributes to achieving LEED credits by saving energy and reducing a building’s carbon footprint.
· The material allows building designers to provide beautiful, high-efficiency roof systems with reduced electrical energy usage and lower cooling costs for the building owner. (For reference: https://www.copper.org/publications/pub_list/pdf/ProfessionalBuilderMarch2014-reprint.pdf
For interiors, copper possesses natural antimicrobial properties.
· For interiors, copper possesses natural antimicrobial properties. It is the only solid metal touch surface material registered by the US EPA to continuously kill more than 99.9% of bacteria when cleaned regularly. As an example, the CDA reports that antimicrobial copper is being used in sinks, faucet handles, light switches, cabinet handles, etc. *
These are just some of the reasons, according to the CDA, that copper continues to be used on and in religious structures across North America.
Learn more: https://www.copper.org/
* In the U.S., after rigorous testing, the EPA registered many copper based alloys, such as brass and bronze, as public health products that continuously kill six bacteria that cause infections. Laboratory testing shows that, when cleaned regularly, antimicrobial copper surfaces kill greater than 99.9 percent of the following bacteria within two hours of exposure: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE), Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and E. coli O157:H7. Antimicrobial copper surfaces are a supplement to and not a substitute for standard infection control practices and have been shown to reduce microbial contamination, but do not necessarily prevent cross contamination or infection; users must continue to follow all current infection control practices.
