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Buildings use one-third of
all energy and two-thirds of all electricity generated. Star provides
customers with a variety of green building options that help mitigate
energy consumption and support overall green building efforts
including: environmental, economic, and, health and community. As a
leader in our industry, we are committed to the continuation of
developing new green building opportunities and innovations for our
customers.
The Green in Metal
Metal construction has
green characteristics including recyclability and durability. In
addition, strategically-designed metal construction projects contribute
to a building’s improved energy efficiency, can reduce the amount of
materials necessary for the building envelope and are often more cost
effective than other non-metal construction materials.
Recyclability and Durability
Roof and wall panels, structural members and other building materials
composed of steel are virtually 100 percent recyclable when removed, as
opposed to many conventional, non-metal construction materials, which
are taken to landfills. According to the American Iron and Steel
Institute (AISI), steel is the most recycled material in North America,
with an annual average recycling rate of 70 percent. Furthermore, new
steel made with recycled material uses as little as 26 percent of the
amount of energy required to manufacture steel from iron and other
naturally extracted materials.
Metal roof and wall panels consist of a minimum of 25 percent recycled
material and, with the addition of our structural members, our metal
buildings can contain 30%-50% recycled material, depending on the
project.
In addition to recyclability, metal roofs and wall panels can reduce
waste due to their unmatched durability and resistance to fire, wind
and insects. AISI reports that metal roofs last between 40 - 60 years
and require less maintenance than other types of roofs.
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Solar Reflectivity and the Solar Reflectance Index
Solar Reflectivity (SR), or reflectance, is the ability of a material
to reflect solar energy from its surface back into the atmosphere. The
SR “value” is a number from 0 to 1.0. A value of 0 indicates total
absorbance. ENERGY STAR requires an SR value of 0.25 or higher for steep
slope (more than 2:12) roofing and SR value of .64 or higher for low
slope (2:12 or less) roofing.
Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) is used to determine compliance with LEED
requirements and is calculated according to ASTM E 1980 using values
for reflectance and emissivity. Emissivity is a material’s ability to
release absorbed energy. To meet LEED requirements, a roofing material
must have an SRI value of 78 or higher for low slope (2:12 or less)
roofing.
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Cool Colors for Metal Roofing
Star offers cool paint colors for all of our metal roof panels. When
used properly, considering the environment and the slope of the roof, a
cool roof can reduce energy consumption, providing significant cost
savings while helping to mitigate urban heat islands.
An urban heat island (UHIs) is an elevation of air temperatures in
urban communities, relative to surrounding rural areas, caused when
vegetation is replaced by large sections of pavement or other dark,
non-reflective surfaces. Urban heat islands are believed to not only
influence the temperature of the affected area but are also responsible
for higher pollutants in the air.
Many of Star’s cool colors meet the reflectivity and emissivity
performance levels required by LEED and ENERGY STAR to mitigate the
cause of UHIs and energy consumption overall. Reflectivity is the
deflection of solar energy from a surface. Roofs at 2:12 and greater
have been proven to generate less of a heat island effect than
lower-sloped roofs. Greater reflectivity abilities require less energy
to cool a building.
Emissivity is the relative ability of a surface to emit heat by
radiation. As with reflectivity, when a roof can effectively cool
itself through radiative heat loss, it will reduce the amount of energy
consumption for the building.
To learn more about our cool colors for metal roofs or to order contact usat 336.627.7700.
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Insulated Metal Panels
Buildings using effective insulation systems have long-term impacts on
the environment due to their ability to reduce energy consumption over
an extended period. As a result, the reduction in energy used
contributes to the reduction in energy costs. Star offers insulated
metal panels that are ideal for numerous roof and wall applications,
that when used as part of a strategically-designed green construction
project, can improve the building’s energy efficiency, which is
measured, in part, by what is known as an R-value.
The panels use a special foam insulation to provide superior R-values
for greater thermal efficiency. The R-value is the unit of measurement
of apparent thermal conductivity, or the resistance, of the flow of
energy from warm to cold, and describes the rate that heat energy is
transferred through materials. R-values are achieved by tiny air spaces
that slow conductivity. Insulation with higher R-values will be more
effective than those with lower R-values.
Insulated panels are ideal for temperature controlled building systems.
They are thermally efficient, affordable and aesthetically pleasing.
Insulated panels offered by Star receive excellent test results for air
leakage and water penetration through panel joints and meet the
weathertightness requirements of most specifications.
Star offers insulated panels that provide the benefit of being
disassembled when they are no longer needed for a building. The
disassembled metal panels can be recycled or reused to create the
structure of a new metal building project. Maintaining 75% - 95% of
existing walls, floors or the roof of a building provides one to two
points when qualifying for LEED Certification.
To learn more about our insulated metal panels or to order, contact us at 336.627.7700.
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Retrofit Roofing
For building owners and
architects looking to achieve LEED Certification on an existing
building, Star’s retrofit roofing system can help. It uses light-gauge
framing in combination with our metal roofing panels. When applied over
an existing roof with a specified slope, a retrofit system delivers an
aesthetically pleasing effect, while improving SR values and providing
water runoff solutions. In addition, if the existing roof materials
remain, they won’t become waste added to landfills, with many serving
as added insulation. Star’s retrofit framing system is ideally suited
for a wide-range of substrates including steel, wood or concrete. The
retrofitting technique can also work for new construction as an
economical and competitive alternative to prefabricated truss
construction. To learn more about our retrofit solutions, contact
a us at 336.627.7700.
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Long Bay System®
Star offers NCI’s patented Long Bay® System (LBS), which is
custom-engineered to accommodate structures requiring expanded areas of
open floor space, up to 65 feet, while allowing for uncommon
flexibility in architectural design. The Long Bay® System allows
building owners to use less building materials. Open web truss
sub-framing provides roof support and simplifies the installation of
mechanical and electrical systems. Significant overall cost savings are
created by less bridging, fewer footings and the reduced number of
columns needed. It also increases cost savings by reducing foundation
costs and increasing the ease-of-erection. The Long Bay® System is
compatible with many wall and roofing systems to increase versatility in
construction design.
Whether our customer is
seeking to meet LEED, Green Globe or other certification requirements or
simply wanting to improve the energy performance of their building,
Star offers solutions to reach many environmentally-friendly
construction goals.
Long Bay System Basic Material Specifications - Long Bay Systems General Guidelines
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