- Thursday, April 25, 2024
By: Admin Super
The move toward a more sustainable future has been gaining momentum in the U.S., and many industries are doing their part to go green. Although, some industries have an advantage over others.
For instance, while restaurants eliminate styrofoam and plastic from their daily operations, prefab steel buildings are already green in many ways.
For anyone looking for ways to build with sustainability in mind, here’s how prefab metal buildings are ideal.
Waste is normal in most industries, but the construction industry produces an enormous amount of waste. According to statistics, in 2018, construction and demolition projects sent 145 million tons of waste to landfills. The majority of construction waste includes asphalt shingles, bricks, clay tiles, drywall, and wood.
When a new building is constructed, there will generally be a massive pile of debris and waste that needs to be hauled away at the end of the project. Sometimes the materials are reusable, but they’re not easy to sell or even give away. The easiest thing to do is take it all to the dump.
Metal buildings are easy to find as prefab units that won’t create a bunch of waste that needs to be hauled off to the dump. For instance, steel building contractors in California connect people with local building suppliers that will deliver and set up a metal building professionally and affordably. In some cases, prefab buildings can be assembled in one or two days, depending on the size and design.
No matter what size steel building you build, your space will be much cleaner and you’ll avoid sending a bunch of waste to the dump.
Instead of building traditional wooden structures, many people are now building metal structures. Steel, in particular, is much more durable than wood and doesn’t require as much upkeep.
Durability plays a huge role in sustainability because it takes fewer resources to maintain a building that can withstand harsh weather, earthquakes, animals, and manmade issues.
When it comes to durability, metal buildings can withstand harsher weather conditions, including heavy snow loads, which means they’re less likely to need repairs after a bad storm. They’re also less likely to become severely damaged after a flood or water damage from a broken pipe.
When you think about how many repairs and renovations typical buildings go through over the course of their lifetime, there are plenty of resources wasted.
For instance, although wood is considered climate-friendly, it takes resources to process it into usable materials. That doesn’t even include the fact that unsustainable timber production exists, and it’s hard to know the true source of your wood.
Metal buildings don’t require the same level of repairs and maintenance. For instance, you won’t have to worry about termites eating a metal building, nor will you have to worry about the walls rotting from a leak in the roof. There are even waterproof wall panels you can install in a metal building to prevent mold and mildew.
With fewer repairs required, a metal building will have a smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional buildings. It’s also easier to renovate and add onto a metal building. For instance, you can cut a hole on the side of the building and attach another unit. Adding a room to a wooden-framed building would be more resource-intensive and would produce more waste.
When a traditional wood-framed building is demolished, there are many different materials to recover from the wreckage. Not all of these materials are recyclable or even reusable. However, a steel building is almost completely recyclable since it’s metal.
Since metal buildings are recyclable, they are the more sustainable choice for building an eco-friendly building. Many steel buildings are able to get LEED certified, which is a big accomplishment.
Metal buildings are leading the way toward sustainability
Sustainability is important to preserve our planet and ensure it stays habitable for future generations. This requires everyone to make individual choices that support sustainability.
In the construction industry, the availability of metal buildings is leading the way toward a more sustainable future. Although, a fully sustainable future will require a concentrated effort and collaboration across all industries.
