Though we may not visualize steel roofing as being a way to reduce environmental waste and to save the climate, the installation of this roofing material comes with an array of environmental benefits.
Steel is an Energy Efficient Material
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Buildings Technology Center conducts a three-year study on the energy efficiency of steel roofing panels and steel roof systems. They found steel to have extremely high solar reflectivity and emissivity levels that can assist in reducing heat in the areas where it is used. In addition, when compared with other materials which lose up to 40% of their reflecting abilities within three years of installation, steel retained approximately 95 percent of its reflectivity for the course of the study. Needless to say, steel is one of the most energy-efficient roofing materials used in the marketplace today. By using a light colored metal roof, it’s also been estimated that energy expenditures can be lowered by 20 percent. Steel more than meets the minimum EnergyStar requirement of 60% in reflectivity – great news for households concerned with energy-efficiency.
Steel can be Recycled!
Steel in Toronto and the GTA is one of the few roofing materials that is recyclable. Multiple studies have concluded steel and metal to be the most eco-friendly roofing materials. In Canada, including in places like Chatham and Ottawa, many of the steel roofs installed have up to 40 percent recycled materials in them. Beyond that, the steel itself is 100 percent recyclable and can be reused after its life span has run out. Rarely will steel roofing materials ever end up in a landfill. Compare that to the 1.1 million tons of asphalt shingles that end up in Canadian landfills every year and it should be clear what the most environmental sustainable option is.
Steel Lasts Longer
Though inexpensive upfront, asphalt shingles notoriously do not carry with them a long lifespan. According to multiple studies published in the last decade, steel lasts up to three times longer than asphalt does. As steel is malleable, and able to be pressed and shaped without breaking or cracking, they make for the perfect roofing material in North America. Even in challenging weather, the only real upkeep required is routine inspection. This equates to a lifespan of up to sixty years and sometimes beyond, meaning less material waste and thereby less waste created by your household.
Steel is an indicator of environmental sustainability
Steel roofing in Ontario known to improve home values sometimes by as much as 6 percent. The growing interest in sustainability has meant steel being the gateway for some homeowners into more environmentally friendly living. Switching to energy-efficient appliances is one thing. Steel takes things even further and turns the entire home into an energy-efficient property. The more green and sustainable the home is, the healthier the community around it and the higher value it is believed to have.
Steel protects your property and the environment
The fact that steel is able to withstand rain, snow, hail, and some of the most challenging weather conditions that can be thrown at it is a good thing. Homeowners can rest easy knowing that it shouldn’t need replacement due to debris or the natural elements, similar to what would be required if you had traditional asphalt shingles. The longevity of steel and the protection they provide cuts down on waste. Even at the end of their lifespan, they can be reused and rebuilt into something else. For these reasons and others, this is why more people are seeing steel as the most environmentally-friendly roofing material in Canada and the United States today.