Green Roofing

Sustainable Design means being ecologically efficient by using building materials and methods that conserve energy and resources, have a low impact on the environment, and are durable enough to be passed on to future generations. Building Green is building for the future, thereby ensuring the long term health of our communities and environment. Glacier Steel has embraced this “building green” philosophy since opening its doors in 2000. This dedication to conserving and protecting our ecosystems, improving our air and water quality, conserving energy, and reducing the amount of solid waste we throw out is reflected in Glacier Steel’s product line.

Steel is one of the most consistently recycled products in the construction market. With an average of 25% or more in recycled content, our steel roof panels offer a stark contrast to conventional roofing materials, which typically have a much lower
recycled content. In addition, steel is 100% “recyclable,” thus greatly reducing the energy needed for producing virgin steel.

Steel Roofing and Steel Siding are:

• 100% Recyclable at the end of its useful life. This helps to eliminate the waste dumped into landfills, where most other conventional roofing products end up.
• Durable: Steel offers long useful life in a wide range of weather conditions. Its longevity significantly reduces the need to use future raw materials to produce new steel product.
• Fire-resistant and generally non-combustible.
• Safe: Steel roofing and the exterior paint systems used with them are safe materials that pose no health risk. The surfaces are inert, with no gas emissions or allergens. Steel is non-combustible, and tested for wind resistance, fire resistance, and hail resistance.
• High Strength-to-Weight which means lightweight yet strong. Depending on the type of steel roof product, it can be as low as 1/8th the weight of conventional roofing shingles. This results in less load on the structure and foundation, thus extending the life of a building. And steel offers the option of installation directly over old roofing materials.

More Facts:

• Recycled steel reduces industrial water pollution, air pollution, and mining wastes by about 70%.
• It takes four times as much energy to make steel from virgin ore.
• Annually, enough energy is saved by recycling steel to supply the city of Los Angeles with almost a decade worth of electricity.
• Over 5400 BTU’s of energy are conserved for every pound of steel recycled.
• Every time a ton of steel is recycled, 2500 pounds of iron ore, 1000 pounds of coal and 40 pounds of limestone are preserved.

Sources: www.coolmetalroofing.org • www.recycle-steel.org • www.steelscape.com