When I think of green building materials, I tend to think of things found in nature: wood, granite, bamboo, cork, slate, etc. Metal never really comes to mind. Green metal? Really? The only green metal my brain can conjure up is the verdant, acid-rain stained Statue of Liberty - and I don’t think that’s the kind of green I’m supposed to focus on here.
Upon further research I found that metals are actually very green building materials. Steel, in particular, is easily recycled into new metal objects, low maintenance, and easily insulated. Generally speaking, a structure built of steel requires significantly less in materials and labor to complete a project. These factors, taken together, make steel structures both energy efficient and cost effective.
One of the things I’ve recently learned about while researching and writing so much about green building is the topic known as offgassing. Offgassing refers to building materials and home furnishings and finishes that emit toxins into the air, creating poor air-quality in buildings and homes. Things like lumber, paints, stains, and furniture cushions can all contribute to offgassing. But not metal - metal does not release any harmful odors or chemicals into the air, making the air quality of a metal building much healthier for residents or workers.
Extruded aluminum is another great sustainable building product. Extruding is a more environmentally conscious method of manufacturing aluminum products. Additionally, aluminum is so recyclable that structures that are made of it are easily deconstructed instead of being demolished. What this means is that an aluminum building can be taken apart and the metal reused in another project, which keeps manufacturing at a minimum, reduces factory-driven air pollution and decreases landfill clutter.
Here’s something I didn’t know before now - aluminum is one of the most plentiful elements found in the earth. It is a great natural resource for making sustainable structures and is gaining popularity as the main feature in the very sustainable cool roofing system.
I don’t know about you, but when I think of a metal structure, I picture the fragile and frail carport that had to be kept from blowing away in heavy windstorms and the rusty rat-trap of a shed that graced our backyard. This is no longer the case. Today many large structures are built out of metal, like churches, schools, warehouses, stores, and more.
Metal building materials of today are much more sturdy than the carport I mentioned. They have unbelievable longevity, strength, durability and are way more resistant to rust than my mama’s shed.