Are copper mining and tube manufacturing processes energy-intensive?
Less energy is used in manufacturing copper tube than in producing plastic alternatives, which, incidentally, are made from dwindling petroleum reserves. An analysis called Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) reveals that copper pipe in no way contributes to higher utility bills. LCA takes into account energy expended in every stage of a product’s life—from extracting the raw material from the earth to refining, manufacturing, shipping, installing, use and disposal. Results of LCA analyses show that copper tube requires about 10 percent less energy over its lifetime than CPVC pipe.
