Golden opportunities:
Metal building systems lead the way in cost and energy savings
Jeff Landon,
Posted
08/01/2009
It may be a
surprise, but buildings are the No. 1 source of energy utilization
in the United States. The building sector today accounts for
40 percent of the total.
In today's economic environment, metal building systems are the
perfect solution for offering a variety of cost and energy savings.
These savings are evident from the initial stages in the building
process throughout the life of the building. Recent events in the
nonresidential construction market show a metal building system has
substantial benefits beyond its life. A metal building system is
defined by the Metal Building Manufacturers Association, Cleveland,
as a professionally engineered steel structure that provides
cost-effective and efficient low-rise buildings for a wide array of
uses. Today's metal building can be custom engineered to the end
user's needs, which means the design is energy efficient.
Early Savings
The building envelope, which is a noteworthy element in the
construction process, offers innumerable opportunities for an
energy efficient building. Metal buildings, because of their design
flexibility, can offer considerable savings in new construction and
retrofit.
Today's building environment gives contractors, architects and
building owners an increasing number of challenges and requirements
when considering a new facility. These complex challenges,
regardless of the market and facility, are golden opportunities for
metal building systems.
A metal building can be estimated and designed faster than
conventional construction, which impressively shortens lead times.
In addition, because most metal buildings have fewer components,
this allows for quicker fabrication and less time during the
erection process as compared to alternative construction systems.
Another outstanding benefit of a metal building is, because they
can be closed in sooner, work can continue despite adverse
weather.
Ongoing
energy Savings
There are a number of ways metal building systems can save costs
and energy. The variety of options and methods of insulation that
can be used is a key feature of metal building systems. For
example, factory-insulated metal wall panels have been developed
and can create a facility that uses energy more efficiently.
The polyurethane foam core used in insulated metal panels has the
highest R-value per inch of any of the insulation products used in
commercial construction. Typical rigid board insulation has an
R-value of 5 per inch.Fiberglass has an R-value of approximately 3
if not compressed. Also, unlike with rigid board insulations
commonly used in construction, the R-value of the foam in IMPs will
not degrade over time. The R-value of rigid board insulation can
degrade by as much as 15 percent over time. Continuous insulation
is a must in any building envelope for true energy
efficiency.
In a recent study performed by FMI Research Services Group,
Raleigh, N.C., on insulated metal panels in nonresidential roof and
wall applications, of the nine most influences of whether to use
insulated metal panels, 63 percent of those surveyed cited energy
efficiency. In this same study, 62 percent believe the demand for
more energy efficiency and lower operating costs will influence the
market share for insulated panels over the next five years.
Both new building construction and retrofit is seeing increased
demand for cool metal roofing products and systems. Empirical
research and evidence has substantiated and verified claims of
energy savings.
What is a cool roof? A cool roof, according to the Cool Roof Rating
Council, Oakland, Calif., is one that reflects the sun's heat and
emits absorbed radiation back into the atmosphere. The roof
literally stays cooler and reduces the amount of heat transferred
to the building below, keeping the building cooler and at a more
constant temperature. Average energy savings range from 7 to 15
percent of total cooling costs.
Cool metal roofs need not be white. They are available in a variety
of colors, which gives an aesthetic touch that can still meet local
codes and save energy. They can qualify as a cool roof by using an
industrial-grade coating that has high reflectance and high
emittance values.
Operational Savings
Cool metal roofs also offer maintenance savings by extending the
life of existing air conditioning systems. Metal roofs lower
maintenance costs and extend roof life, avoiding reroofing costs.
Standing-seam metal roofs are cost-effective over the lifetime of a
building, and like metal wall panels, they can be designed and
constructed to include insulation, which calculates to lower
operating costs.
Businesses can receive tax deductions for commercial buildings. The
building envelope components are eligible for one-third of the tax
incentive if it meets its share of the whole-building savings.
Beyond
Savings
An increasing number of contractors, along with architects and
designers, are more focused on sustainable building materials today
than ever before. Steel is the most recycled material available,
making metal buildings the perfect choice. In addition, a metal
building system affords sustainable construction techniques.
The combination of materials and design translates to an
outstanding opportunity to gain LEED points and a subsequent level
of certification. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council,
Washington, D.C., LEED practices with the goal of making green
building available to everyone within a generation. LEED provides a
concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and
measurable green building design, construction, operations and
maintenance solutions.
The flexibility of design along with substantial energy and
operational savings are just a few of the advantages that make a
metal building a strong consideration for the challenges of
commercial building construction.
Jeff Landonwww.cecobuildings.com.
www.cecobuildings.com