These days it’s in everyone’s best interest to go green. And in the construction world, new technologies are popping up every day to help us do so. Different building materials can contribute to the overall energy usage of a building.
While wood and concrete are still solid contenders for construction projects, metal is a material you shouldn’t skip out on using if you’re worried about your energy footprint. So here are five reasons why metal buildings are more energy efficient.
1. Better Insulation
When you begin working with metal frames for your buildings, you’ll need to make sure that they are well-insulated. Luckily when you use metal-framed buildings, you can also use high-performance insulation methods. Metal-framed buildings have large spaces between the frame and the wall that can be filled with more insulation than your average wooden frame.
Insulating a metal building with high-performance materials keeps air from escaping and prevents cold air from getting in. In the wintertime, less heat will escape from the building. And during the summertime more cold air will stay inside. This means that you don’t have to constantly run as many heaters or air conditioning units, even when the weather gets brutal. Running less equipment leads to a more energy-efficient building.
Since you aren’t always running heating and cooling units to keep the temperature neutral in your metal building. You’ll also be lowering your energy bills in the process, saving you money in the long run.
2. Using Recycled Metals
One of the best parts of using steel or metal for your construction projects is that most of it can come recycled. While you may be weary of using recycled material, don’t fret. In the United States, recycled steel has been used for over 170 years in construction. It’s durable, lasts a long time, and can withstand the elements better than most materials. And it keeps up its strength even when recycled.
Using recycled steel is a sustainable way to use the material for construction. Thus lowering your energy usage for the entire project. You aren’t contributing to the energy use of a factory creating new steel. If you decide to use recycled metals for your project, you’re already working on energy efficiency and conservancy even before your break ground.
3. Metal Roofing
To create a full metal construction you should consider adding a metal roof. Metal roofs have cooling properties. They are easy to install on prefabricated metal buildings. These roofs also have great ventilation.
Having a metal roof allows heat to disperse and dissipate in your building and vent out. While keeping the inside of your building cooler. Having a metal roof can lead to reducing heat gain through the roof. So your building will
4. Advanced Temperature Regulation
Metal buildings can have advanced temperature regulation systems installed within them to keep the temperatures cool and warm when necessary. Not only is the temperature regulation more advanced with metal roofing and insulation, but you can also make sure it continues to be monitored by individuals.
For a large metal construction, you can appoint a few trusted people to be in charge of the temperature throughout the building. This prevents anyone from using too much heat or air and will make your building much more energy efficient.
5. Highly Durable
Metal is one of the most durable materials you can use in a building. When you pair that with concrete you can create a strong building that will need minor upkeep and maintenance. You can learn more about using metal and steel together with this insider’s guide on post-tension concrete.
Pairing metal and concrete creates a strong building that is much less susceptible to damage. This means that you’ll be saving more energy by not having to use as much equipment to constantly fix issues with your building. Instead, you can save some money, and energy for a crew and machines by starting with these highly durable materials in the first place.
Conclusion
While using metal may not be your immediate go-to, it’s a great idea to transition to using metal frame construction methods. Not only are they easy to build and many come prefabricated, but they can drastically improve your energy footprint. Conserving energy will also save you money on your building. And having an energy-efficient building will be better for your business and the environment in the long run.