Go Green and Save Money with a Steel Building

There are many factors to consider when constructing a steel building. Taking steps to build a “green” building not only helps save the environment, but also saves the owner a substantial amount in operating costs. It’s true; when you build green you reduce energy consumption, reduce costs and create less of an environmental impact. Allied Steel Buildings has supplied this simple guide for more information on building green and energy efficient building options.

A crucial step is to find an engineering team that is experienced in sustainable design, and familiar with utilizing a mix of green manufactured products and efficiency options. Depending on your project, check with the engineers for LEED-Certification requirements. If you not familiar with the LEED-Certification program, it can be a valuable resource to save money with government incentives. See the notes section located below more information on the program.

By purchasing a steel building, you are already taking advantage of green incentives. For instance, Allied Steel Buildings are manufactured with 90% recycled steel, which significantly decreases energy consumption and raw materials when manufactured. Furthermore, building with pre-engineered steel leaves behind less onsite waste and is less expensive in materials and construction costs than a traditional building from the start.

Another easy energy saving tip is to design windows and skylights in correlation to the sun. This will ensure you save on lighting expenses. Allied Steel’s prismatic skylights deliver substantial amounts of increased natural light. They capture indirect light by bending the sun’s rays up to 30 degrees, while simultaneously reflecting away the sun’s heat and blocking 98% of ultraviolet rays. These prismatic skylights add approximately 30% more natural light. Light transmitting panels or “LTP’s” are another cost effective way to take advantage of the sun. LTP’s are available for wall and roof panels, but snow loads are a factor when placing these on the roof; make sure you consult with an engineer in the design phase.

Depending on building location, the color of the roof system can help sustain internal temperatures. Choosing a white roof means a cooler building during the summer; conversely, a darker roof can help to keep a building warm in the winter. Allied Steel also offers reflective color options for metal roofing to diminish the warming effects of the sun’s rays. In addition, insulation is a factor that can help save on overhead. Note that the R-value is the measure of thermal resistance. Allied Steel recommends an R-20, 6″ industrial insulation system to lower annual operating costs, specifically for buildings with high occupancy levels and agricultural storage.

Electing an Allied Steel building means you’ve already made a conservative choice for the environment.  For instance, Allied Steel’s insulated panels feature Pentane, that equates to zero or a very low Global Warming Potential (GWP) compared to most other insulating materials. Other pros to consider when building green include: lower operating costs, increased asset value, reduction in waste and reduction in harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Green buildings are also safer for occupants and typically receive higher rental and resell rates. Contact Allied Steel for more information and options concerning green buildings and the LEED-certification program.

LEED-Certified:  In 1998 the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) was founded, becoming a major force behind the green building initiative. The USGBC implemented their crucial rating program, Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED). With LEED-certification, business owners report decreased operating costs and increased building values. To fully take advantage of this green initiative, you must provide documentation to become LEED-Certified. LEED-certified buildings are eligible for government incentives and marketing benefits.

In North Eastern Nova Scotia, Eric and Linda Barker of Highland Ford Sales recently completed the construction of their new showroom, a 12,500 sq. ft. Allied Steel building. It’s a great milestone for a company that in 1916 became the first Ford dealership in the area. Today, two generations of the Barker family oversee a staff of approximately 50 well-trained and customer focused employees.

For years the Ford name propelled sales in the area, then in 2000 Eric and Linda Barker purchased the dealership and brought with them a vision of excellence in sales and service which was recognized when the dealership became Blue Oval Certified. Ford’s Blue Oval Certification program aims to alleviate customer anxiety by effectively communicating what to expect at a Blue Oval Certified dealership, then delivering a best-in-class automotive product and service experience.

As Ford Motors continues to distinguish itself from the competition, great customer service helps the team at Highland Ford Sales provide the best experience in the area. With their new facility, the 100×125 Allied Steel building, providing a quality experience has become easier. The new showroom provides ample space for brand new vehicles, parts and service and the finance department.

About Highland Ford Sales: Located at 35 Balodis Drive in Westville, Nova Scotia Highland Ford is committed to providing the best in product knowledge and customer service. Visit www.highlandfordsales.com to build a vehicle to your specifications, view current specials, arrange for credit, view dealership services and more.

The growing congregation made it necessary to find a home for the church, Pastor Anthony began his quest. He purchased land in Brazil Village, found Allied Steel on the internet and utilized Allied to find a suitable prefabricated building.  He researched building design and with the help of Allied Steel proposed the ideal structure for the church, a 60x120x24 steel building with room to grow. While funds for the new church were raised and the building fabricated, Pastor Anthony set up tents on the land where the future church would stand. Services were held in the tents for one year as attendance remained solid the members anticipated their new church.

Faith Assembly International members were gracious to donate their time to help erect the structure. Though the pieces are pre-engineered and the holes are already drilled on an Allied Steel building, it does require hard work and skill to construct a building of that size. Assistance came from the loyal congregation, among them a civil engineer and two metal erectors. Construction began in July 2008, and by that October, Faith Assembly Brazil went from operating under a tent to under the steel roof of their new church home.

The journey to find a place to worship for Faith Assembly International Brazil Village is now complete. Pastor Anthony has witnessed his call fulfilled as his members grew from the Thursday nights at the community center, to the temporary tents, and ultimately to the new church. Today, Faith Assembly International Brazil Village has grown to 300 plus members! Seating in their 7,200 sq. ft. church allows for more than 350 seats on the ground floor, with additional seating available on the mezzanine. The church also features many windows where natural light can be utilized. With sister churches in nearby Arena and Caparo they are truly spreading the faith.

About Faith Assembly International: FAI’s mantra is to take the gospel to the world indeed, their world begins in Trinidad. FAI has been instrumental in setting up sister churches in various parts of Trinidad, a purpose driven and Christ centered ministry. Visit http://www.faithassemblyonline.com for more information.

The hangar itself serves a multitude of functions. Over 5,300 sq. ft. provides ample room for the workshop area where aircraft parts are fabricated. A mezzanine level utilized as office space helps to take advantage of the 22’ clearance that was necessary for larger aircrafts. On the floor there are also washrooms, a grinding room and a paint booth. Additionally, an area is designated for experimental testing of aircrafts and parts; Poole is currently testing a Falcon 20 wing for MIT. The hangar also features an upgraded industrial insulation package that helps to keep the interior comfortable year round.

What Poole enjoys most is the versatility the hangar provides, it allows him to repair a larger aircraft such as a Beech King Air or work on his personal projects like restoring his vintage WWII bombs and aircrafts. Poole definitely recommends Allied Steel Buildings, stating that “my experience with Allied was extremely good, the construction process was seamless, the parts arrived on time and fit together perfectly.” Poole also stated, “The contractor was very pleased with the way that it went together so easily.”

About Aero Structural Inc.: Located in Breslau, Ontario provides structural repair, fabrication and modification specifically for executive, single engine and commercial aircraft. Aero Structural Inc. understands time management and the importance of safe reliable workmanship for aircraft structural requirements. Visit http://www.aerostructuralinc.com/ for more information or call 1-866-971-5244.

“We had the pleasure of meeting with the parents of a little boy who was told he would never be able to walk again. We were amazed as we watched him playing and dancing with some new friends. His parents had been there for over a year and would not have been able to stay without the accommodations of the Ronald McDonald House.” –Michael Lassner; Allied Steel CEO

“Allied Steel, you guys knocked it out…we needed this group with all of the strong men and hard working ladies” –Stacy Celestin; Assistant House Manager Ronald McDonald House Ft. Lauderdale

Here at Allied we feel very proud that we can give back to the community and families in need.

When you deliver over 3400 buildings worldwide they are bound to show up in movies, photo shoots and television shows. Sunday’ nights Amazing Race 19 took place in Panama where the competitors faced off in the brand new Panama fish market, a building recently engineered and delivered by Allied Steel Buildings. They also shot at a future site of 4 more Allied buildings in Panama by the Panama Canal Expansion going up in early 2012

Known for fabulous beaches, Aruba’s coast is sprinkled with exotic divi-divi trees that provide postcard-worthy views of the southern Caribbean Sea. Unique with its dry climate, Aruba compels travelers all over the world to come and take advantage of its continuously sunny days. It’s no wonder that in 1933 construction plans for an airport on the island were underway. Fast forwarded to today and the state-of-the-art Reina Beatrix Airport is operating with a plethora of commercial airlines and private charters, with plans in the works on a new expansion that includes two of the largest aircraft hangars on the island.

Reina Beatrix Airport’s most recent expansion of the South Side terminal or “Universal Air Terminal” will add two 12,838 sq. ft. Allied Steel prefabricated hangars to accommodate the heavy private and business air traffic. The terminal currently manages 10 to15 arrival and departure flights daily, with an increase in peak season from 50 to 70 daily flights. With air travel up 6.5% from this time last year, the two hangers, purchased from Allied Steel Buildings will house the Boeing 737 jets of Tiara Air, an Aruba airline, and a separate private hangar of identical size planes.

The two Allied Steel hangars are 131x98x31 and both feature a 100×28 sliding electric door for easy access of the Boeing 737 jets. Construction has already begun on this phase of the 3 part expansion; when complete the project will also provide alternative runways and an extension of the aprons. Chris Rucker, Director of Major Accounts for Allied Steel, has been with the project since its inception, he recently stated “We are very proud to be working with the Aruban Airport Authority and Van Kessel Havenbouw N.V.  A project of this size that will be visible to everyone who arrives on the island is a fantastic opportunity to show the world what we are made of”. Allied Steel local representative, Ing. Ulrich J.A. Lim-Apo of Limas International has been instrumental in assisting the project and is also excited about the opportunities it will bring.

Van Kessel Havenbouw N.V., the Aruba based company in charge of the construction, are in the process of erecting the large prefab Allied Steel hangars. Arie van den Top, Project Manager of Van Kessel Havenbouw N.V. notes that the pre-engineered steel hangars are going together quickly and the construction of both buildings will be complete at the end of June 2012. Rucker stated, “Working with Van Kessel Havenbouw N.V. has been a seamless transaction, we’ve been with them every step of the way to make sure their project stays within its projected timeline and within budget. We are all excited to see how the new additions impact air travel to Aruba.”

About Van Kessel Havenbouw: Founded in 1970, Van Kessel Havenbouw is one of the most highly respected construction companies in Aruba. Visit http://www.vkharuba.com/ to browse through other projects and company history or call +297 585 99 45.

About Allied Steel Buildings:  Allied Steel produces superior pre-engineered steel buildings at affordable prices for every application including aviation, industrial, agricultural and residential steel buildings.  Call an Allied professional at (877)997-8335 or visit www.alliedbuildings.com for steel building prices and rates.

In Cawston, British Columbia Cawston Cold Storage Ltd. is keeping it fresh with their commitment to food safety precautions and the high-quality manufacturing practices of their organic produce. Since 1992, CCS has continued to expand their business and discover new ways to produce more fruits and vegetables with a greater sustainability of their harvest. Owners, Dan Taylor and Bill Potash began CCS in the 1990’s by renting a building to package the produce from their farms. Today CCS serves Canada and exports to the United States and Europe; they are constantly striving for the safest and environmentally friendly packaging to provide the best quality organic fruits and vegetables at affordable prices with minimal impact on the environment.

A few years ago, CCS purchased a 50×100 Allied Steel building for an agricultural warehouse and storage facility. In line with their quest to keep things green, an Allied Steel building was the best choice. There are many benefits to building with prefabricated steel buildings, less construction time, less jobsite waste, and over 90% recycled steel means the environmentally focused can feel good about their purchase. Taylor did have one minor complaint, he was missing the erection manual at delivery and was unclear if he could begin construction of a 5,000 sq. ft. building with 18’ clearance, without a guide; however, Taylor was able to erect the building in just a few days. CCS received the steel structure on a Friday and by Monday construction of their pre-engineered steel storage building was complete!

By visiting www.naturesfirstfruit.com you can learn more about Cawston Cold Storage Ltd. Browse through organic tips and trivia, as well as their food safety techniques and groundbreaking plans for controlled atmospheric storage, which means you can enjoy their delicious apples year round!

About Cawston Cold Storage Limited: Cawston Cold Storage Ltd., under the brand name of Natures First Fruit handles only certified organic fruits and vegetables.  Situated in the magical Similkameen Valley, the organic growers of CCS are able to achieve the highest quality standards. Visit www.naturesfirstfruit.com or call (250) 499-7777 for more information.

About Allied Steel Buildings: Allied Steel produces superior pre-engineered steel buildings at affordable prices for every application including industrial, agricultural and residential steel buildings.  Call an Allied professional at (877)997-8335 or visit www.alliedbuildings.com for steel building prices and rates.

In the greater Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area of Texas, Wilco Recycling has taken on a new initiative, to help divert more recoverable materials from the landfill. In August 2011, they unveiled their new single-stream recycling facility. Single-steam recycling is revolutionizing the way materials are processed and renewed. Without the need to separate recyclables out on a truck route there are more participants, decreased collection costs and a greater output of renewable materials. John Rabon, General Manager of Wilco Recycling, effectively completed his project in August 2011, just 6 months after he received authorization for the facility from city officials in Taylor, Texas.

Success depends on careful preparation and execution of a plan. With experience building similar facilities, Rabon meticulously considered each aspect of his innovative project, starting with location. As recycling plants tend to have minimal refuse, Rabon chose a location in close proximity to the Williamson County Landfill since the same trucks and drivers will be delivering to the recycling facility. Rabon weighed in on building type and requiring a large structure, he chose a pre-engineered steel building from Allied Steel. The 37,500 sq. ft. Allied Steel Building afforded him more durability and reliability without the excessive costs of a conventional building. He allocated funds to keep the “green” going by selecting an industrial insulation package that is energy efficient and decreases operating costs. Overall, steel buildings are more eco-friendly than other buildings as steel is the most recycled material on the earth. A prefabricated steel building also means there is less waste during construction and construction times are faster, Rabon was able to complete the erection of the building in eight weeks and the entire facility construction and equipment installation in 6 months.

Rabon’s project has already proved successful. The new single-stream recycling facility has created 26 jobs and is expected to cut recycling costs and yield higher returns. Wilco Recycling now handles the curbside collection from just one container, after it’s been sorted and processed at the facility the materials are then sold and made into new products. Ultimately, John Rabon and Wilco Recycling are making it easier for consumers to be environmentally conscious without much effort and that is a well executed plan.

About Wilco Recycling: Wilco Recycling is the latest member of a family of full service waste industry companies that have been serving Central Texas since 1981. Wilco Recycling is focused on one simple goal, helping customers find and utilize the best methods to recycle their waste stream and reduce their impact on the environment. Visit www.wilcorecycling.com for more information.

About Allied Steel Buildings: Allied Steel produces superior pre-engineered steel buildings at affordable prices for every application including industrial, agricultural and residential steel buildings. Call an Allied professional at (877) 997-8335 or visit www.alliedbuildings.com for steel building prices and rates.