Recycled Steel

"Here are some things to think about in terms of recycled steel. The amount of jules (energy) it requires to make steel (even from recycled materials) is very high as compared to using recycled wood. One thought may be to use the recylced steel on the roof. It's less expensive, lightweight, reflects sunlight (and reducing heat gain is a must down here) and requires less materials overall die the low weight of the steel. No heavy beams, tar paper and extra wood needed to brace the roof."

AF

http://www.themetalinitiative.com/content/building_with_metal/benefits/sustainability/s_greendesign.cfm

After reading this article that my mentor sent to me, I found that the use of recycled steel as the primary material for the roof. If I use salvaged wood, the building foundation will be mor green through indirect reasons including that the lumber is salvaged from local areas and will not be that difficult to transport.


"For building owners and architects committed to preserving natural resources, metal building products offer a unique, environmentally friendly solution to their building’s requirements.
Metal roofs and walls can contribute considerably to the “green” building movement because of their high recycled content, recyclability, sustainability and energy efficiency.

The recycled content for steel used in metal roofs and walls, for example, is at least 25%. This level of recycled content reduces both the cost and environmental impact of making new steel, as it conserves energy and other natural raw materials.

The fact that the recycled content of steel is at least 25% by weight also helps earn points in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) program, a national rating system based on a series of prerequisites and points. The program’s objective is to encourage the design and construction of buildings that have little or no negative impact on occupants and the environment. Minimum LEED certification for a building requires 26 points.
Steel’s recycled content is especially important when it is compared to other materials such as concrete, which has a recycled content of only 3% (fly ash) and even less when the weight of the recycled material is factored in.

Other metals are also high in recycled content. For example, a recent survey indicated that the recycled content of domestically produced, flat rolled aluminum construction products was approximately 80-85%. The average recycled content of all copper and zinc products is 44% and 9% respectively. Copper roofing contains approximately 75% recycled material."

Green design with metal roofs and wall panels. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.themetalinitiative.com/content/building_with_metal/benefits/sustainability/s_greendesign.cfm

Additional Website:
http://www.metalroofing.com/v2/content/metal-roofing/

Salvaged Wood