Building With Sustainable, Green Construction

Steel remains one of the most sustainable building materials available. Constructing a green building for your next home has never been easier due to the wide prevalence of steel in the construction industry. Steel is very eco-friendly, as it can easily be recovered and recycled into top-quality products. Over 95% of the water used during the steel-making process is recycled and returned, making it perfect for a green building.

What is a Green Building?

Using steel for a green building offers many other benefits, such as not being susceptible to rot, mold, or termites. The zinc coating on steel also provides it with an added layer of protection against the elements. Building a steel-framed green building is also much more accessible than wood or masonry due to its lighter design. You also won’t have to worry about steel warping or splitting, which is just one more reason why it’s an excellent choice for building a sustainable house.

Here are a few of the top reasons why you need to consider steel for your next eco-friendly home.

Reduced Construction Waste and Energy

One of the benefits of a steel home is that it creates less waste during the construction process. The time it takes to build a steel house is also much shorter than using lumber and other building materials. The entire home construction process is streamlined due to the pre-fabricated framework for a green building. All of this plays a crucial role in reducing the amount of machinery needed for the job while saving the home construction builder a lot of time.

On the other hand, wood always needs to be cut on-site, leaving a lot of construction waste behind. For example, wood construction can result in 20% waste on the job site, while a steel-framed green building will only leave around 2% waste. These numbers can rapidly add up over time, making using steel products the perfect choice for anyone looking for a sustainable building design for their next home.

Greater Energy Efficiency

An additional benefit of using only a green building supply for your home is that it can help you lower your utility bill each month. Steel-framed structures give you more space to add insulation, which plays a key role in keeping your home feeling comfortable. You also don’t have to worry about steel suffering damages over time due to its superior strength compared to wood and other common building materials on the market.

Installing solar panels on your roof is another way to improve energy efficiency. A steel-framed home can easily handle the weight of solar panels, making it a perfect option for creating a sustainable building. Using solar panels is one of the best ways to power your home while improving energy efficiency through sunlight.

Eco-Friendly Production

Steel companies across the globe continue to look at more ways to improve energy efficiency and reach zero emissions. It’s now much more common for steel plants to be more green, and they are continuing to use innovative methods to reduce waste. Water is also used throughout the manufacturing process of steel structures, and it’s completely recyclable. These steel companies will only continue to improve in eliminating emissions, making steel the perfect choice for sustainable building design.

Strength and Durability

Constantly spending time and money renovating a house can quickly get expensive. However, one of the advantages of using steel for creating a green building is that it only requires a small amount of upkeep. Steel can easily handle some of the harshest weather conditions without the need for any repair work.  On the other hand, wood is always susceptible to termites and the risk of fire. The strength and durability of steel homes make them a great choice if you live in high-risk areas prone to seismic activity or hurricanes. These sustainable building materials offer you the best protection against mother nature while benefiting the environment.

Resistant to Mold

Dealing with mold is an all too common issue in many homes. Mold growth can often get worse over time and create a variety of health issues. Using steel framing is one of the best ways to avoid this problem, as it’s much stronger and resilient than wood and other materials. The vast majority of steel is built offsite in a controlled environment, which improves energy efficiency while ensuring that moisture doesn’t get within the steel studs. You will have peace of mind knowing that building a sustainable house with steel construction is mold-resistant.

Conserve Resources

A green building can play a crucial role in limiting construction waste. For example, a standard 2,000-square foot wood-frame house can take nearly an acre of trees before the job is done. However, a steel home will only use scrap metal from roughly six vehicles, which is one of the main reasons steel homes continue to become a more popular trend.

Leader in Green Building Standards

Many cities are passing new laws and regulations for using a green building supply during the home construction process. Meeting these stringent standards isn’t always an easy task while using other building materials. However, a green building advisor often recommends steel construction due to its eco-friendly properties and energy efficiency.

The purpose of the U.S. Green Building Council is to increase sustainable buildings, as steel construction is always a highly recommended option for new construction and renovations. One of the main underlying characteristics of a sustainable green building is the low maintenance and energy efficiency of steel, making it possible to meet ever-evolving building standards.

Conclusion

Learning more about sustainable building design and construction waste management is essential in creating a more eco-friendly future. Steel remains one of the most popular eco-friendly building materials while offering a wide range of benefits for homeowners. Now is one of the best times to consider building a sustainable house and experience the many advantages of steel construction!