We must educate owners: metal buildings are the energy-efficient choice from start to finish
by Jonathan McGaha | 25 October 2010 12:00 am
Buildings are the No. 1 users of energy in the United States, and that begins with their construction. According to the Whole Building Design Guide, buildings consume 42 percent of America’s energy and 68 percent of its electricity and generate 35 percent of all carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere
(www.wbdg.org).
Even as interest in sustainable building grows and energy costs soar, there is still a perception that going green means spending more money. That doesn’t have to be the case, especially when specifying metal building systems, which offer some of the most energy-efficient structures available today. Owners need to know that the technology and materials used for metal building systems allow them to use less material, erect more quickly and operate with optimal efficiency everyday. Sustainable structures can save owners money in construction costs now and in energy costs in the future.
Efficiency with metal building systems starts as soon as a building is specified. We know that steel is increasingly recognized as the most recycled and recyclable building material and that green metal roofs offer energy-saving alternatives to dark asphalt and built-up roofs. Our role as industry leaders is to educate owners and builders and help them understand that metal building systems offer unmatched sustainable benefits in a cost effective construction solution.
In addition, metal building system manufacturers have the advantage of using proprietary engineering computer software programs to design and create each new building. Guided by experienced professional engineers at each firm, these programs help ensure that each building is not only designed appropriately but that it uses only the optimal amount of materials required to meet the building code, customer requirements and local zoning regulations. Owners should confirm that their metal building systems are created by companies whose engineering staffs provide single-source service and shoulder design responsibly-from CAD engineering design through system detail drawings.
We also need to clarify for owners that metal building system engineers can design a building for a specific site so it takes advantage of things such as the angle of the sun and water runoff to optimize the building’s resource use.
As leaders in energy efficiency, we understand that the more airtight a building is, the less it has to use the HVAC system to heat and cool it and the more efficient it is in its operation. So by insulating the roofs properly and using energy-efficient metal wall assemblies that might include pre-insulated metal wall panels, HVAC systems can often be downsized to fit the real energy needs, making it-and the building-more energy efficient.
Cool metal roofs have gained ground because of their high reflective efficiency, low maintenance and durability. Another aspect is the ability to integrate solar panels into the building envelope. Standing-seam metal roofs are logical for these systems.
While metal building systems are by design to be very energy efficient, the Metal Building Manufacturer’s Association, Cleveland, and its members are continually looking to increase their buildings’ efficiency. The organization has an energy committee, which is dedicated to fi nding ways to improve the energy efficiency of metal buildings and put these practices into use on a regular basis. One of the committee’s current priorities is the development and publication of the Energy Design Guide, which will be available in both electronic and print formats in the near future. This guide will enable builders and owners to optimize the energy efficiency of metal buildings and the entire building envelope while making sure potential users have a clear and readable resource to understand the system features. Additionally, the MBMA energy committee has been active with the International Energy Conservation Code and ASHRAE 90.1 hearings to further the efficiency of the building envelope. For more information about these activities, click on www.mbma.com.
What can you do to help owners understand the green value of metal building systems? Offer seminars; speak at conferences; and meet with your Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions Clubs. Invite a local TV station or newspaper reporter to visit a site where a metal building system is being built so they can see first hand how quickly and efficiently the buildings take shape. Remember, our industry is an energy leader, and the more we spread the message, the more we can help reduce our nation’s carbon footprint.
Charles E. Praeger is the assistant general manager of the Metal Building Manufacturer’s Association, Cleveland, and a past chairman of the Cool Metal Roofi ng Coalition. Details can be found at www.mbma.com.
Source URL: https://www.metalconstructionnews.com/articles/we-must-educate-owners-metal-buildings-are-the-energy-efficient-choice-from-start-to-finish/