Building and development are often pitched as antithetical to environmental sustainability, but there are options to make your next building project have a smaller impact on resources and the environment. Metal is an environmentally friendly material that can be used in many scenarios – particularly in ceilings. By using metal as the material to build your home’s ceiling, you can participate in an environmentally sustainable construction project.

Building and development are often pitched as antithetical to environmental sustainability, but there are options to make your next building project have a smaller impact on resources and the environment. Metal is an environmentally friendly material that can be used in many scenarios – particularly in ceilings. By using metal as the material to build your home’s ceiling, you can participate in an environmentally sustainable construction project.

One of the fundamental ways that metal serves as an environmentally friendly material is by using recyclable material. In fact, steel and other metals are endlessly recyclable through the industry’s close-circuit system, which melts down discarded metals to create metal sheets, metal beams, metal ceiling tiles, and other materials for building. Almost all steel contains recycled metal.

Additionally, since the early 1990s, industry specialists have worked to reduce the amount of energy it takes to produce steel and other metals. Since beginning this process, the steel industry has reduced its use of energy by 33% per ton of steel. By reducing energy at the site of production, metal sustainability has moved beyond just an individual impact to a much larger structural impact.

Also, metal uses less material to achieve durability and strength. Unlike wood, concrete, or other building materials, metal has a unique ability to provide security and sturdiness with relatively little material. As an added bonus, metal’s ability to use less material to achieve architectural goals means that you can maximize usable space. Metal’s long spanning ability prevents the need for bulky beams, which take up space and use more materials. Metal is also lightweight, which makes transportation costs lower.

Metal is also more durable than other building materials, which saves you money. It also helps manage resource use by greatly reducing or eliminating the need to replace your ceiling or other structure over time. If you replace your ceiling with metal, you can ensure that you will avoid any further repairs or replacements because of its long lasting durability against fire and earthquake damage, as well as general wear and tear.

Metal has quickly become the most environmentally sound building material because of its recyclability and durability. Not only do these features help protect the limited resources the earth provides, but they also help save you money and space.