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According to the Department of Energy, 22 LEED-certified buildings are 34% less in carbon emission, 24% less in energy consumption, use 11% less water, and channel away almost 80 million tons of waste from landfills [source:Â website].
According to a U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) report, employees are happier and more productive in LEED green buildings. The same report mentioned that 79% of people would choose a job in a LEED-certified building.
Metal buildings are green buildings. It cuts down carbon emissions and reduces the wastage of water & energy. So, it is a clear winner in the green department. Shall we see what makes metal structures so green after all?
Exactly How Sustainable Are Metal Buildings?
From time to time, the question arises whether a steel building is worth it. So, let’s see what you get when you pick sustainable steel buildings for your home or business.
1. Recyclability
Steel is 100% recyclable material. Any waste or metal shaving that remains after finishing can be returned to the furnace, melted, and reused as many times as possible. They neither lose their strength nor durability.
And as if that is not enough, in case a metal structure needs to be demolished, all the steel can be collected and recycled rather than ending up in the landfill. Now, isn’t that a great news?
2. Reduce Cost
Even though the initial cost of installing a steel building is higher than a stick-built house, savings are also higher. For example, a wooden home will require high maintenance in terms of pest inspection & control or electricity use. But with metal, you do not have to worry about pest infestation and higher energy bills.
If you compare the cost of installing and up-keeping a wooden structure to metal, the metal structure will stand out as a clear winner here. We will see in the upcoming points how a steel structure saves your energy bills.
3. Health Benefits
Certain wood materials like cedar wood releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can cause irritation in the eyes, nose, throat, or other form of allergies. Additionally, any kind of woodwork will produce wood dust that can damage your lungs or cause skin reactions.
None of these are valid for metal buildings. Metal is a sustainable building that is safer for occupants. Steel structures have better indoor air quality. They do not require any chemical treatments either. You do not have to worry about mold and mildew growth.
An insulated steel building is even resistant to fire. They are comfortable and help regulate temperature. If you are a business, the good news is that a research article published by the National Institute of Health (NIH) found that a green environment positively affects employee productivity, a self-reported reduction in absenteeism, and an additional 0.41 work hour gain per occupant.
4. Less Carbon Footprint
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has mentioned that CO2 emission from energy use in buildings accounts for 37% of global CO2 emissions. But with metal buildings, you get a myriad of options to cut down on your carbon footprint.
First of all, the steel itself does not require any destruction of forests by cutting down trees, which helps maintain CO2 balance. Secondly, milling steel takes less energy and minimum to no water. That’s an added advantage.
Third, it takes less raw ‘metal’ material compared to wood to construct the same size building as metal has a higher strength to weight ratio.
Finally, after the steel has served its purpose, it can be repurposed many times, hence not ending up in a landfill, causing virtually no land pollution.
5. Energy Saving
According to reports, buildings use more than 38% of all American Energy and 76% of US electricity. All this can be stopped just by switching to a greener building. And what better green structure could be other than steel? Readily available, affordable, fits every pocket size, and highly versatile – what do you want more?
With metal roof panels, you have a choice to get a cool roof. In simple terms, it is a reflective coat on the metal roof to redirect sunlight. It helps prevent the heating up of the roof. Hence, your HAVC system has to work less.
Next up, we have a solar roof. Don’t get intimidated. We are not talking about those bulking solar panel that looks blunt on your roof. Nowadays, you can get bendable solar panels or peel-and-stick panels that are lightweight and easy to install. So, save your money and get a metal solar roof.
You would be delighted to know that the government has initiated various programs to reward energy savings. As stated on the IRS website, you can save a total of up to 3,200 USD per year until 2033 by being energy efficient. That’s great news, right? You save nature & your money both.
A bonus is that you can have skylights to let natural light come in. This will reduce the reliance on bulbs in the morning.
6. Protects Natural Resources
Sustainable metal buildings rely less on fossil fuels. Steel, in particular, is a renewable material. It does not involve cutting down forests to get lumbers. Even with repurposed lumbers, there is an issue of wastage as they can’t be reused indefinably. So, more trees are required to be cut down with time.
7. Saves Water
Let’s start off with some basics. A pitched metal roof with a properly installed gutter and downspout can help harvest rainwater. You can filter this water or use it as it is for many purposes. This will decrease your water consumption and bills.
Come and see for yourself how much water is needed to construct a building with wood and metal. Even though several factors matter when it comes to construction, we will keep it simple here.
It takes 34,000 gallons of water to produce one ton of steel. One board of lumber takes 5.4 gallons of water to grow (this does not include water used during logging, cutting & processing). A typical 2,600 sq. ft. home needs 16,380 board feet to build. That’s a lot of water.
Moreover, you need less steel compared to wood to build a same sized house.
So It All Adds Up To This:
Metal buildings are the future of housing and commercial structures. They reduce the strain on local resources by preserving them. With top quality metal that comes pre-cut and pre-drilled, you have less wastage of raw material.
Even though complex steel buildings require professional workers to get installed, they have a higher return on investment over time. Your metal structure will appreciate in value as we move towards a greener and eco-conscious society.
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