Being more environmentally conscious has become a driving factor for many individuals and businesses – the idea of a small footprint has gone from a thing you heard about occasionally to something that a growing percentage of people are aware of.
This is a good thing, and not just because of global warming which is the main reason ‘small footprint’ has become part of our lexicon. While that is a serious issue, perhaps the greater issue is simply the desire to cut back on waste and excess.
Buildings are more often viewed in this context by their insulation ratings and overall energy usage, and those can be very important markers. But the material that buildings are manufactured from can be just as important in the decision to cut down on waste and maximise efficiency.
Metal buildings make a lot of sense in this regard. Although the insulation value of metal is not nearly that of some other materials, metal buildings have the advantage of being very easy to insulate, making them as efficient as any other structure when it comes to maintaining a good inside temperature.
While this is the most obvious measure, there are other considerations.
One of these is the initial footprint of the materials that the structure is to be made from; metal can be very energy consuming to manufacture, but unlike wood it does not take an active role in the deforestation of the earth. It is hard to tell the exact cost ratio of the difference between metal and wood buildings for a variety of reasons. There are a huge number of factors involved, from harvesting and transportation of the raw materials.
The second reason metal can be far superior to other building materials is the expected lifespan of the building. Metal buildings in the regard are superior to most building materials. With proper maintenance steel buildings can last a very long time.
Part of this has to do with maintenance – while wood structures, for instance, can also last a very long time, this is if a much more rigorous maintenance on the structure is maintained. For instance, steel structures which are properly assembled are in large part immune the normal concerns to the environment.
If a wood structure is not adequately maintained, though, the frame itself will succumb to the ravages of excess moisture, damage from wood eating insects or other things which are simply not a concern with steel buildings.
The main reason this is a factor is because a large part of leaving a small footprint is using systems which have the smallest amount of foot print when divided by their expected life spans. Building for the long term and maintaining a building for what might turn out to be hundreds of years is one of the best ways to conserve resources and help the environment, and steel buildings are almost impossible to beat in this regard.
Also, the maintenance on steel buildings is very low. An occasional paint job may be needed, and sealant will need to be refreshed on parts of the roof, but replacing shingles is not a factor, nor is replacing or maintaining the siding of the structure.
This type of cost becomes more expensive as a building ages, and can be another large factor when you are looking at the entire life of the building.
Before you build your next building, contact Midbrook Steel Buildings for more information on the long term benefits of steel buildings.
For long lasting structures, nothing beats the efficiency of Midbrook Steel Buildings. Buy a building for the generations – buy steel!