Archive for the 'going green' Category

Green Building and Its Benefits to the Environment

Published August 14, 2010 going green Leave a Comment
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The popularity of green building has increased dramatically amidst the negative controversies surrounding the current status of the environment. The world has been facing more than enough environmental problems lately and it seems that there’s just no end to all the troubles plaguing the world now. Many builders and contractors, however, have found a way to at least make a difference and help minimize the effect they can have on the environment. Many of these contractors and builders are now focusing on providing their customers with green options to building and renovating their homes.

Green buildings are the new trend in the building and construction industry. People who have realized the benefits offered by this new technology in construction have now opted to renovate their homes with green building materials, ranging from the different types of roofing options, decking options, paneling, and paint to name a few. The benefits to using these green construction materials are vast and they benefit not only homeowners but the environment as well.

Here are some of the benefits of green construction to the environment:

  • Waste reduction
  • Reduced pollution
  • Enhanced biodiversity
  • Conservation and restoration of natural resources
  • Moderated temperature. Constructing buildings the green way can help minimize the onset of urban heat island effects. The planting of trees and other strategies used in green construction may help offset growing temperature in particular areas.

Green building strategies or the concept of sustainable building is focused on using renewable and recyclable materials in constructing buildings and structures. The result is a significant reduction of waste construction materials thrown into the dump. Accumulation of large amount of solid waste materials that are often a result of construction and demolition may now be controlled and reduced through this process. In turn, because there is less wastage and utilization of non environment-friendly construction materials, pollution is significantly reduced. In addition, natural resources are being conserved more and longer time is given for them to be restored.

The US Environmental Protection Agency has more information on why people should choose to go green with the construction and renovations of their buildings and homes.

The Built Green Renovation Program & Guide to Build Green

Published July 22, 2010 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , Norsteel Buildings News , going green Leave a Comment
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Earlier this year, Built Green Canada which is a non profit industry that promotes green building practices to reduce the impact buildings have on the environment, has increased the options for green building by a Renovation Program and Guide in addition to its checklist for new construction. 

Many people are upgrading their homes and buildings to make them more energy efficient so The Built Green Renovation Program & Guide has come at the perfect time! “It was developed with input from builders and renovators, allowing them to choose from a checklist of more than 290 action items that address everything from energy efficiency and water use to material selection and homeowner education.” said David Bengert, President of Built Green Canada.

Built Green offers building standards, mandatory builder training and third-party testing, inspections and audits across Canada. It encourages homebuilders and renovators to use technologies, products and practices that will provide greater energy efficiency and reduce pollution; provide healthier indoor air; reduce water usage; preserve natural resources; and improve durability and reduce maintenance.  More than 14, 000 homes are enrolled in Built Green Canada today!  The renovation program was created for Built Green Canada by a team from the Canadian Home Builders Association of British Columbia, which included renovators, builders, community representatives and industry experts. 

Certified builders and renovators select items from a checklist of green criteria posted on the Built Green Canada website to meet Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum achievement levels.

The renovation program guide, which you can also find at www.builtgreencanada.ca  recognizes actions that:

  • Meet green codes and regulations for energy, air quality, water efficiency and storm water management standards.
  • Involve Built Green members who are committed to green building, and have specific knowledge and skills.
  • Use techniques that reduce site impacts, including water protection.
  • Promote energy efficiency beyond National Building Code requirements, using Natural Resources Canada’s EnerGuide rating.
  • Improve air quality and reduce health risks for occupants and installers.
  • Choose green building materials and reduce job-site waste.
  • Help owners and tenants learn how to operate their homes in a more environmentally friendly manner. Homeowner education is the only action item required for certification to ensure the home is operated in an environmentally friendly manner and stays green.

For more information on Built Green Canada and the Renovation Program & Guide, you can visit www.builtgreencanada.ca or for more ideas on green options for your building, visit www.norsteel.com

The Wonders of Steel Recycling

Published July 22, 2010 Norsteel Buildings News , going green Leave a Comment
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How does one steel building turn into another?

Or, in this case, a car is turned into a steel building. Seriously, (and you can probably figure this out from the age of some of this film from below), but recycling steel has been done for a long time. Of course, it’s good for the environment—it reuses an existing resource over and over again, transforming it each time for a new and useful purpose. In contrast, the process of digging iron ore from the earth and turning it into steel is vastly more complicated and requires many steps. Easier to just bust up a car, shred it, melt it and then turn it into a building. You should check this out: it shows a bunch of nattily dressed conference attendees attacking a poor defenseless Oldsmobile with a sledgehammer (actually, it’s surprising how much sledgehammering the car can sustain). I suppose they are working through some white-collar angst.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oQxSwkKtIM

Let’s geek out a bit on steel recycling, as you saw it done in this video. According to the oracle of Wikipedia, in 2008, “more than 83% of steel was recycled in the United States. In the United States, it is the most widely recycled material; in 2000, more than 60 million metric tons were recycled.

“The most commonly recycled items are containers, automobiles, appliances, and construction materials. For example, in 2008, more than 97% of structural steel and 106% of automobiles were recycled, comparing the current steel consumption for each industry with the amount of recycled steel being produced (the late 2000s recession and the associated sharp decline in automobile production explains the over-100% calculation). A typical appliance is about 75% steel by weight and automobiles are about 65% steel and iron.”

So there you go, something to think about next time you pass a car that’s smashed up. It will go on to vibrant new life! Maybe as your new warehouse or mini-storage!

Save With Better Insulation

Published June 21, 2010 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , Pre-Fabricated Building News , going green 1 Comment
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We all want to be a little bit more eco-friendly when it comes to our environment. This is why if you’re thinking about purchasing a steel building, and are thinking of ways to save energy; purchasing better insulation may be a great idea!  Over the years, research has proven that energy consumption is the largest and controllable cost of a steel building.  This fact is becoming more distressing as energy costs increase at very high rates and with no intention of slowing down. The benefits of steel building insulation are incomparable with a variety of customized products catered to decrease your energy consumption and that will also offer consolidated resources to help you gain extra energy savings.  Many companies will help you with an energy management system for your steel building. 

If you’re investing in a new steel building and think that it’s already been efficiently insulated, these are false assumptions. It would be wise to take the time and research anything that you think would be included in these buildings because often they are not. 

Most steel buildings are constructed with only two inches of insulation. In most steel buildings this is an insufficient amount which will result in major loss of thousands of dollars yearly in wasted energy. Another major problem is that older steel buildings may have air leakage which will result in owners paying up to 50% for more heating and cooling. As you can see energy costs are going up due to the lack of research and poor assumptions that are made on steel buildings. 

To avoid high energy costs, read below on some of the facts to properly insulating your steel buildings:

When insulating properly, steel building owners can expect to save up to 20-50% savings on their next energy bill. Thermal energy loss is one of the largest expenses for steel building owners.  Insulating your steel building from $1.60 per square has instantly lowered energy bills for a lot of owners.

Energy becomes more efficient, when insulation acts as a barrier to slow the movement of heat which lowers energy outlays.

If properly laminated, vapor retardant also known as facing, quality insulation prevents condensation, which results in better climate control and maximum insulating efficiency. Insulation facing also provides bright, reflective wall and ceiling treatments to increase lighting efficiency.

Remember Short-term fixes to energy problems only offer short-term solutions!  Please research and investigate before purchasing or renovating your steel building. In the long run, you will save on energy bills and have a more energy-efficient steel building. 

For more information on insulating your building, feel free to visit our website at www.norsteel.com or give us a call at 1-866-822-4022, one of our sales reps will be happy to speak with you!  Or to learn more about insulation, please visit http://www.SteelBuildingInsulation.com

Offering The Best in Roofing with Metal

Published June 15, 2010 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , Pre-Fabricated Building News , going green 2 Comments
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What do we do at Norsteel to make our clients happy?  We  make a splash with our new products and designs using metal roofing!  In this article we will talk a bit about designs, colours, some interesting statistics about metal roofing and why metal roofing is becoming popular demand.  A group called Metal Roofing Alliance was formed back in 1998 and they began tracking the roofing market, they reported that metal compromised just 4 percent of the residential reroofing market and 1 to 2 percent of the home construction market.  In 2009, a survey was conducted and it showed that overall market share of 11 percent in the residential reroofing segment and a 5.5 percent market share in the smaller new construction market. So now here we see that there has been an increase in metal roofing, but we are wondering why?  Well this is due to such amazing advantages of metal roofing.  On average, a non-metal roof lasts 10- 20 years.  Asphalt shingles only last up to 17 years, however metal roofing can last two to three times longer than that!  Now that’s amazing! 

Now here we can talk a bit about the roofs materials and colours. Because of its base material, metal roofing works as a weather-resistant system for a really long time. Residential metal roofs are made from galvanized steel, this can be Galvalume or aluminum, however other metals are available as well such as zinc or copper.  Also, these metal roofs are made from recycled content and can be recycled after the useful life of the building.  You may also add high performance coatings at any time during the manufacturing process to help prolong the life of the roofing panels.  Coatings also reduce energy consumption and improve solar reflectance. Highly reflective colours or dark colours formulated with special infrared reflective pigments reduce energy consumption.  70 percent of solar reflectance can be achieved from metal roofs.  Keep in mind that colours of a coating can affect a roof’s reflectivity.  Another advantage of metal roofing is that they are great for renewable energy systems. 

Now here we can look at pricing.  Metal roofing should be considered in terms of life and value not just on price.  We realize that the installed cost may be expensive than traditional roofing, however, metal roofs will last longer and help to lower utility bills.  They may also qualify for a tax credit of up to $1,500.  Part of the Stimulus package which originated in 2009, a credit can be given worth up to 30 percent of material cost up to $1,500 per building.  A metal roof can even lower some insurance premiums by as much as 35 percent.

Now that you have read some advantages of metal roofs, you now may want to consider getting a metal roof for your building.  For more information on metal roofs, please visit us at www.norsteel.com

source: www.metalarchitecture.com

Green Construction: Steel as the Most Environment-Friendly Choice

Published May 31, 2010 going green Leave a Comment
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In the fourth entry in the Green Construction series, we’re going to talk about what is probably a lingering thought in your mind. By now, you should be convinced that green building solutions do not have to be expensive. With green construction, you can live a more comfortable life and not have to worry about your utility bill. There are energy-efficient vinyl or coated windows and green insulation system for your industrial or residential building.

But did you ever wonder if steel buildings make for good buildings? In the end, the structural framework and material of the building is one of the most important parts of green construction. In this aspect, steel is the perfect choice for plenty of reasons.

There are steel buildings that contain recycled steel. Recycled metal is just as durable as any other metal. What makes recycled steel an even better alternative is that it reduces greenhouse emissions by as much as 56% for steel and 92% for aluminum. The energy used up in producing recycled metal is also significantly less.

By using recycled metal, natural resources are also conserved. That’s because tons of iron, coal and limestone are conserved in the process of recycling steel. Norsteel’s steel frames and sheeting contain recycled steel, which means that you’re practically making a stand for the environment by contacting Norsteel regarding the steel building you have in mind.

Another reason why you should opt for metal buildings is its durability. Concrete or wood buildings, for example, are not as resistant to fire, pests, and wind as metal buildings are. That’s precisely why high-rise buildings are made of metal; they will last for innumerable years. Prefab metal buildings are even better. You can transport them from one place to another without worrying about the space it takes up. Once you don’t need the building, you can easily disassemble it and transport it to a more convenient location.

And what happens once steel buildings have served its purpose? They won’t be burned down or dumped into the sea. As steel is completely and absolutely recyclable, they can be reused to be transformed into another building, maybe even a car. That way, you will not to worry about whether your building will damage the environment once it has reached the end of its life.

Obviously, all these reasons make steel the strongest contender for the most environmentally friendly material for any building, residential or industrial.

Green Construction: R-Max Insulation System for Steel Buildings

Published May 18, 2010 Norsteel Buildings News , going green 1 Comment
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Green Construction: R-Max Insulation System for Steel Buildings

For today’s series on Green Construction, we’re going to talk about how you can bring improve the overall quality of living in your prefab metal building. Norsteel’s different steel building insulation packages can make this happen. We have an entire list of options that you can choose for your steel building: fiberglass blanket insulation, semi-rigid batt insulation, and R-max system.

With the R-Max insulation system your building, you will have two benefits: first, you can bring down the heating and air-conditioning costs of the units in the metal building, whether it’s a residential or an industrial building; second, it will make living or working indoors a lot more comfortable by making it well-ventilated.

What is the R-Max System?

One of the innovative technologies offered at Norsteel, the R-Max insulation system works by providing a thick roof and wall insulation with superior R-values compared to other traditional insulation systems. With insulation both installed both in your roof and walls, the heat transfer from outside to your building’s interior is reduced. Also, the white interior liner panels not only provide the insulation system with an attractive finish, but also diffuse the lighting inside the building by as much as 30%.

During the summer, the steel building’s absorption of heat is significantly reduced, thanks to the insulation provided by the R-Max system. As for winter, the heat inside the pre fab metal building circulates because the thick insulation system does not allow the heat to escape the metal building.

Why should you use it for your pre fab metal building?

A common problem with metal buildings, although they are widely used in Canada, is its difficulty in insulating temperature. Metal, as you well know, is an excellent conductor of heat. Consider a classic science experiment: if you heat a kettle containing water on an electric range, the water will eventually be warm. Why does this happen? The steel kettle transfer the radiant temperature from the electric range to the temperature inside it the kettle’s surface. This transfer of heat allows the water to boil.

In the same way, steel buildings conduct heat from outside into the building. This applies to cold temperature. To solve this problem, having the R-Max insulation system installed on your roof and walls are a viable option.

Moreover, you save on energy costs because your air-conditioning and heating system will not work doubly hard to make the atmosphere inside the building favorable. This will result in energy savings, which will surely reflect in your utility bill.

So, with this insulation system and a slew of other green building options offered by Norsteel, you can help make your pre fabricated steel building not only attractive but also sustainable, green, and energy efficient. All it takes is for you to use steel—a natural choice in green construction—and combine it with walling, paneling, and insulation designs of Norsteel.

Green Construction: Energy-Efficient Windows for Your Building

Published May 11, 2010 going green 2 Comments
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Green construction isn’t just about spending extra for the environment. As previously mentioned in our green construction series, it’s also about efficient energy use that will benefit the building owner in the long run.

We are going to talk about what you can include in your building plans when you ask for a no pressure quote for you steel building. There is one thing that you can watch out for: energy-efficient vinyl windows.

The windows of your building may be far from your idea of what a green building is, but it can be a huge step to your energy saving efforts.

Energy-Efficient Vinyl Windows

You can opt for wooden or metal framed windows, but will they stand the test of time? The problem with windows of the wood or metal material is that they can easily be corrupted by time. They can fall prey to rotting or rusting.

Instead of buying windows that will have to be heavily maintained, you should consider green and efficient windows—vinyl windows. The design of vinyl windows will not necessarily compromise the design you want your building to achieve. In fact, they can look exactly like steel- or wood-framed windows. The added value is that they can reduce the amount of UV rays going through your windows and at the same time have protection against environmental factors that can destroy the frame in no time.

Saving on Glass Coatings

According to Paul Fisette in his article, that’s because building owners’ main consideration when shopping for windows is the appearance first, and the cost second. What most building owners don’t know is that their windows may be costing them precious energy and ventilation.

Windows are important in any commercial or non-commercial building as it can lose or save 30% of air-conditioning or heat going through four processes: conduction, radiation, convection, and air leakage. What you want is for as much heat to go through the window if you’re in a cold environment. If you’re in a warm environment, you want as little heat to go through your window into your home.

Now, how do you make this possible? There are glass coatings available that can reflect long-wave heat in warm climates. In cold climates, there are glass coatings that can bounce back harmful long-wave heat and let in short=wave light that will go through the window and into your home. The result? A well-insulated and ventilated home that can save both energy and give you the protection you need inside your home.

Windows are one crucial aspect of green construction that is usually overlooked. If you’re serious about having a truly green building, it’s about time you invest on a low-cost environmentally friendly window.



Green Construction: Current Trends in Green Buildings

Published May 7, 2010 Norsteel Buildings News , going green 1 Comment
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With the rising costs of electricity and the increasing demand for sustainable commercial buildings, the need for steel building manufacturers to focus on green construction has never been clearer. Norsteel, always the pioneer and innovator in premium steel buildings, is in the forefront of this need.

That’s why we’re starting a series on green construction, which will discuss green buildings, green energy alternatives, and energy efficient materials for your building. Of course, any reservation from building owners is understandable. In fact, we even warmly welcome them!

These doubts are necessary for you to . We’ve previously mentioned the goal of green construction and a few energy alternatives for your building. But today, we’ll talk about why you need to shift to a green construction mindset, with Norsteel to guide you through and through.

The Current Situation of Commercial Buildings

Current estimates show that only about .3 percent of commercial buildings in Toronto are green buildings. This is similar to the ratio of green buildings in North America.

This number is quite small, considering the negative impact commercial buildings have on our environment. For one, 40% of all US carbon emissions, which inflict direct harm on our ozone layer, come from commercial buildings. Non-green commercial buildings are also the culprit behind 70% of electricity consumption in the US. 30% is divided among residential houses, which are far less in number than commercial buildings. All in all, commercial buildings also consume 15 trillion gallons of much needed water.

These numbers will only grow and worsen—to the detriment of our environment. With the continual expansion of our population, something has to be done about the situation. This is where green buildings come in.

The ‘Green’ Solution

Despite the negative consequences posed by commercial buildings to the environment, their construction simply can’t be stopped. This is where green construction comes in: it presents a stable solution by the use of environmentally-friendly practices in construction from the design to the construction of commercial buildings.

It all starts with the use of energy-saving technologies and materials that are able to reduce energy costs by as much as 30%. Green buildings are also able to reduce water usage by about 30 to 50%. If you’re a building owner, you should instantly know what this means: that the overhead costs of owning building ownership can be lessened by as much as 30 to 50% if you opt for green buildings.

The US Green Building Council provides a five-pronged description of what a green building is. It includes (1) sustainable long-term planning, (2) water efficiency, (3) renewable and efficient energy, (4) conservation of resources, and (5) indoor environmental quality.

These are five aspects of green construction that you can talk to us with as we give you a free steel building information package and no pressure quote.

Increasing Efficiency with Aluminum

Published April 26, 2010 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , Norsteel Buildings News , going green Leave a Comment
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Aluminum products have been known to improve efficiencies and seen in a short time, however these products are higher in cost, but the payback is worth it!  Let’s talk a bit about solar control – an important factor to consider when purchasing aluminum products is the initial building design, this way you can determine what will have vision glass and framing.  Project location will also play a big part in the optimum ratio for the your steel building.  In cold weather locations, heating energy increases with window area and decreases because of the daylighting advantages.  There are different types of glass accessories, such as sun shades and light shelves, they can reduce electrical energy use.  If you looking to make your building “Green”, sunshades are a great option!  As for daylighting – daylight and views’ credits are available for incorporating the use of natural lighting in new construction. 

recycled content is very popular especially when using high content, recycled, aluminum extrusions for framing of vision glass areas is easy and cost effective.  Recycled aluminum can be found from many suppliers and in many variations.  Remember that one LEED point can allow for a total of 10 percent recycled content and an additional point will be rewarded for a total of 20 percent!  Building product materials used on the job from roofing overhead to concrete foundations and site-work are referred as recycled content.  All post consumer and one half of the pre-consumer will be counted.  Any recycled content value of material is weighted.  Key points to think about are:  Post-consumer content which is:  qualifying, aluminum material wich is diverted from landfills after their previous life-cycle and Pre-consumer content which is: qualifying alumium material which is reclaimed from manufacturing production processes or prime aluminum which is primary billet aluminum generally includes overall recipe of recycled aluminum.

Finishes for aluminum include new anodizing processes for aluminum which can also reduce the amount of waste by-product and will produce high-quality aluminum.  Painted finishes for aluminum framing can also add an attractive dimension that is eco-friendly.

Now that you’ve heard the benefits of aluminum and would like more info, please visit us at www.norsteel.com

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