Date: 25 June 2009
The Academy chose Diamon-Fusion® to reduce both the effort needed and the cleaning chemicals typically employed to clean these high-traffic doorways. In addition, Diamon-Fusion®’s scratch-resistant properties will extend the life of these doors that are touched by thousands of visitors daily. The project was completed by Santa Cruz, California-based Central Coast Diamon-Fusion® and Window Cleaning, a member of DFI’s worldwide network of authorized licensees.
The California Academy of Sciences, founded in 1853, opened their NEW building (designed by Italian Architect Renzo Piano, who stands among the world's greatest architects and winner of the 1998 Pritzker Prize) on September 27, 2008 and is widely considered to be the greenest museum in the world based on the Platinum LEED rating received from the U.S. Green Building Council. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system is a highly respected and often referenced standard for evaluating high-performance, sustainable buildings. The Academy has received the EPA's regional 2006 Environmental Award and has been the North American winner of the Silver Holcim Award for Sustainable Construction. The new Academy will consume 30% less energy than required by standard building codes and 60,000 photovoltaic cells will provide 5% to 10% of electricity from solar energy. The Living Roof will absorb nearly 3.6 million gallons of rainwater per year.
“The Academy’s experience with DFI and its product has been very positive.” explained Jock Young, Facilities Manager. “The DFI staff was efficient and professional and the application process itself was quick and painless. The end product is everything I was told it would be resulting in lower labor and material costs. My custodians spend less time wiping sticky fingerprints from the glass using only a microfiber cloth and no chemicals. The feedback from the custodians has been positive as well; ‘I don’t know what you did to the glass’ one of them said to me, ‘but we like it.’”
“To be part, in any fashion, of such a colossal and masterfully designed green project is a true expression to the enhancing qualities of our product and how we are helping, tangibly, to protect the environment”, stated Guillermo Seta, executive director of DFI Global Operations. “The inherent reduction of chemical usage, cleaning efforts and expenses in commercial buildings, on solar panels, at home, and on a wide range of surfaces, simply makes the application of our product natural to anyone conscious of both beauty and functionality.”
The Academy application, along with several other high-profile commercial projects, has prompted DFI to begin development of a suite of products and services to help commercial property owners and developers, on a global basis, keep their buildings beautified, while reducing harmful chemical usage and the effort needed. This suite will be officially launched (by DFI) in the coming months.
The California Academy of Sciences is an international center for scientific education and research and is at the forefront of efforts to understand and protect the diversity of Earth's living things. The Academy has a staff of over 50 professional educators and Ph.D.-level scientists, supported by more than 100 Research and Field Associates and over 300 Fellows. It conducts research in 11 scientific fields: anthropology, aquatic biology, botany, comparative genomics, entomology, geology, herpetology, ichthyology, invertebrate zoology, mammalogy and ornithology.
DFI Nanotechnology multi-functional characteristics include: water and oil repellency (hydrophobic and oleophobic,), impact and scratch resistance, protection against graffiti, dirt and stains, finger print protection, UV stability, additional electrical insulation, protection against calcium and sodium deposits and increased brilliance and lubricity. DFI’s nanocoating works at nanoscale levels to change the molecular composition of any silica-based surface. Diamon-Fusion® provides, in chemical terms, a ‘cross-linked’, ‘branched’ and ‘capped’ optically clear nano-film along with a strong and durable covalent bond.
Central Coast Diamon-Fusion® and Window Cleaning (CCDF), a DFI licensee for over seven years, specializes in residential, commercial and marine glass restoration, Diamon-Fusion® application and window cleaning on premier properties throughout the Monterey Bay Area. CCDF has fashioned Diamon-Fusion® for Princess Cruise Lines, West Marine and most recently the Ocean Honda dealership in Santa Cruz, among many others. CCDF has developed several innovative glass restoration techniques using DFI products that provide their customers money-saving alternatives to expensive window replacement.
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