Technical Data > Technical data Bernardos phyllite > Sustainability and energy efficiency

This means that a development model can be identified as sustainable if it is financially viable, socially fair and can be maintained in the long-term from an environmental point of view, so that a reasonable equilibrium can be struck between the three aspects of development.

Being acquainted with the previously described sustainability concepts allows an analysis and assessment of the involvement of Naturpiedra Jbernardos in these concepts, and thus have a reasonable overview of the company’s current situation.

– Regarding the economic aspect, the company’s activity generates an increase in direct revenue, in the small municipality of Bernardos as well as in its vicinity, thanks to the prestige acquired by this slate, for its historical and cultural value and for its durability.

– Regarding the social aspect, there has been a steady increase in the creation of new jobs over the years, both directly and indirectly; and the company’s modern and efficient means of production substantially facilitate the extraction and elaboration work. Naturpiedra Jbernardos currently employs more than 100 people directly, a number which shows an upward tendency.

– Regarding the environmental aspect, the entity Naturpiedra Jbernardos complies with all the legal requirements which are imposed upon it, as a company exploiting and working with a natural resource, by the demanding European environmental legislation. Thus, the quarry’s tailings are processed in controlled debris management spots, the slurries from slate-cutting are treated in appropriate spaces, the residual water resulting from the quarry’s drainage is recycled, the oils from the vehicle’s engines and machinery are taken to recycling points, etc. In order to guarantee its compliance with this legislation, Naturpiedra Jbernardos keeps the required restoration plans up-to-date, as well as the corresponding mandatory permits.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

The use of energy-efficient materials in the construction of buildings requires a meticulous selection in order to optimise costs and maintain an adequate and comfortable temperature for the inhabitants of large cities, where temperatures tend to be quite high.

It has been recognised and demonstrated that the temperature in urban areas is significantly higher than in neighbouring suburban and rural areas. This phenomenon known as “urban heat island” increases the surface temperature of buildings, leading to an temperature rise of up to 3°C more in comparison with suburban and rural areas.

In this context, the demand for energy to cool down buildings and thus reach a comfortable temperature clearly rises too. For this reason, it is necessary to select efficient materials with surface physical properties − as these determine their capacity to transfer heat − which are suitable for each specific circumstance.

The surface physical properties of the materials used for a cold roof − these must be determined in order to control the temperature of the building’s thermal enclosure − are Solar Reflectivity (R) and Infrared Emittance (ε). The scientific definitions of these two terms are as follows.

– Solar Reflectivity (R) refers to the ability of a material to reflect solar energy from its surface back into the atmosphere.

– Infrared emittance or emissivity (ε) is the proportion of “infrared radiation” shed by a material’s surface due to the temperature which the material reaches in a given environment.

Both values are measured on a scale from 0 to

The closer they are to 1, the colder the surface can remain when exposed to the sun.