Steel siding has a lot of benefits: gorgeous aesthetics, superior durability, low maintenance and sustainability. Steel siding sustainability is often overlooked when it comes to choosing materials, but its eco-friendly footprint makes it the perfect choice for homeowners looking to prioritize their environmental impact. 

We’ve put together a list of sustainable projects you can focus on to create a sustainable home and how steel siding fits into that goal.

Tips for a More Sustainable Home

There are many ways that you can improve the sustainability of your home. This is not an exhaustive list, but it is a great place to start. By focusing on solar panels and renewable energy sources, energy-efficient windows and doors, smart devices, recycling and investing in sustainable building materials, you can drastically reduce your carbon footprint and energy dependency. 

Install Solar Panels 

While installing solar panels is a higher upfront investment, it’s also a strong long-term plan to save more money. In fact, some solar panels produce enough electricity that you can go completely off the electrical grid.

There are immense ecological benefits to solar panels:

• They are pollution-free, meaning they cause no greenhouse gasses to be emitted once they’re installed.

• They require no dependence on foreign oil or fossil fuels.

• They produce renewable, clean power that is available every day of the year, even on cloudy days.

• You get ROI versus paying utility bills forever. 

Invest in Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors

Selecting the right windows and doors will keep your heating and cooling system from having to work overtime to keep you comfortable. With this in mind, you should invest in windows that are energy-efficient and double-glazed. This keeps your home well-insulated, saving you money in the long run on your energy bills. 

Choose windows and doors that have wooden frames. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and uPVC (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride) frames are not good choices if environmental sustainability is what you’re after, as they can emit compounds that can be toxic. Wooden frames are more durable and keep you insulated in both the hottest and coldest months.

Make Your Home ​“Smarter”

Sustainable smart home technology shines when it comes to saving you electricity. By scheduling the work of your appliances, lighting and more, you can save electricity by allowing it to detect home occupants, learn your habits and manage your electricity usage according to the factors you assign it to.

A good example is a smart thermostat: you can ensure your system is only used when you’re home and turns off automatically when you’re at work or out of town. Most smart thermostats become good at predicting when you’ll be home based on your routine so you can always have your heating and cooling system at the most optimal level. 

Recycle

Check with your local recycling center to see what materials you can recycle. Some popular options are paper, cardboard, glass and aluminum. Some larger city centers recycle things like mattresses, toilets, paints and more. 

If you’re redecorating your home, opt for recycled materials. Skip the big brand furniture stores with trendy furniture that will look outdated after a few short years. Instead, go for coffee tables made from recycled wood or vintage couches with reupholstered cushions. You’re still getting a brand new product, but one that’s made thoughtfully, has a story and is made from materials that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. 

Invest in Sustainable Building Materials 

What makes a building material sustainable? A sustainable building material usually meets one of the following factors:

• It is manufactured from resource-efficient processes.

• It contributes lower amounts of GHG emissions to the atmosphere.

• It is highly durable, high-quality and does not need to be replaced or changed within a few years (aka creating more waste).

• It can be recycled.

Some examples of sustainable building materials are composite roofing shingles, bamboo flooring, hemp insulation, insulated concrete forms, smart glass windows and steel siding.

Why Steel Siding is Sustainable

Steel siding is a highly durable and resistant material, meaning it does not have to be replaced very often. Compared to other exterior siding materials, steel siding provides longevity and a longer life cycle —up to fifty years! 

Steel can also be recycled. In fact, steel is the globe’s most recycled material. No matter how many times it’s recycled, steel uniquely retains its properties. Using recycled steel scrap in steel products saves on using natural resources while simultaneously reducing CO2 emissions. 

On average, one ton of recycled steel saves 3,090 pounds of iron ore, 1,630 pounds of coal and 260 pounds of limestone. It provides 70% energy savings and also assists in job creation, as someone has to be involved in scrap collection, separation and the recycling process.

Compared to other siding materials, especially materials like vinyl, steel has a lower environmental and climate impact. Steel creates a sustainable circular economy, also known as an economy in which society reduces the burden on nature by ensuring resources extracted from it remain in use for as long as humanly possible.

It also allows you to save on harmful cleaning agents and paints because of its low-maintenance qualities. If you live in an area that suffers from drought, this low maintenance also helps you to reduce your water usage for cleaning.

How Klauer Solutions Can Help

Here at Klauer Manufacturing, we purposefully select who manufactures the steel that we use for our steel siding. Our steel siding materials come from partner vendors that utilize electric arc furnace (EAF) technology, which uses recycled ferrous scrap as the primary raw material.

With Klauer, you get the highest level of protection for your home and your family with a price point that works with your budget and a product that helps you hit your sustainability goals. We have multiple profiles, colors and siding types available with accessories to match. With no need to worry about rusting, cracking, chipping, peeling, fading, flaking or blistering, you have a trustworthy partner in Klauer. 

Our materials are always delivered within a previously-determined schedule, helping you significantly reduce any project delays. Check out Klauer’s Steel Siding page to learn more.