Building Envelope Technology Poised For Attention In 2009

By Scott Kriner, Green Metal Consulting

Yes, 2009 looks to be a difficult year for building construction. But all is not lost. The future is bright when you consider the forces at work to emphasize the energy and environmental impact of building envelope products and systems. Our country’s population is expected to increase 100 million in the next 30 years. Do you really think the housing and building construction market will remain soft for a long time?

First of all, President-elect Obama is committed to a very expensive economic stimulus package that includes pumping money into building science. One of his cabinet selections includes Mr. John Holdren as Science Advisor and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Obama has signaled that science and the environment will be top priorities for his administration. This has not been overlooked by the metal construction industry. Our industry has already contacted President-Elect Barack Obama and the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Project team to inform them about the benefits and merits of sustainable and energy efficient metal roofing and wall assemblies, specifically regarding their school modernization program. All of the industry’s government relations people are increasing their educational efforts aimed at key Congressmen on The Hill.

In anticipation of an Obama victory even before Election Day 2008, industry at large was capitalizing on this by the formation of a Building Envelope Executive Forum which occurred in October 2008. This group is comprised of representatives from the window, insulation, roof and wall industries. Their goal is to educate executives within the DOE and Congress about the impact that buildings have on the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in this country. The Forum is also focused on doing whatever is necessary to appropriate the necessary funds for DOE to conduct long-lasting research on improving energy efficiency of building envelope technologies at their various national laboratories.

Again the metal construction industry is poised to benefit from this action. The Metal Construction Association and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have agreed to work together on a three-year research program on dynamic building envelope technologies. This project will identify and evaluate next generation roof and wall assemblies that maximize the energy efficiency and even generate energy at the same time.

The Building Enclosure Technology and Environmental Council (BETEC) is a council within the National Institute of Building Sciences that is focusing on effective cooperation among public and private interests seeking energy efficient and environmentally responsible buildings. BETEC focuses on the performance of building envelope components and systems, as well as looking at their impact on the environment. They are a member of the newly created Building Envelope Executive Forum.

And in addition to the economic stimulus plan which holds promise for more funding as a “carrot”, the “stick” in this situation is regulation. Clearly, building energy codes are getting more stringent in their new versions. New “green” standards are being developed that push the envelope even farther. In the architectural community, there are many who consider LEED-certified buildings as not enough. They are seeking net zero energy building design beyond LEED requirements. The only way to reach net zero energy is to first reduce energy consumption through efficiencies and conservation, install renewable energy generation technologies, and then monitor the building to maintain the level of operation and performance.

We know that buildings in the United States are responsible for approximately 40% of the energy consumed and are associated with a correspondingly high level of greenhouse gas emissions. Let’s not forget the environmental aspect of this new surge in building technology improvements. In last year’s Congress alone, 13 legislative bills on Climate Change were introduced. Even though none were passed, it is expected that the new Congress and new Administration will be fighting for some type of global climate change legislation. It could be in the form of Cap and Trade, or some other means of limiting GHG emissions. Eventually the focus will turn to the sources of the GHG and all eyes will turn to the building construction industry. We better be prepared to perform.

The sustainable nature of metal roofing and metal wall assemblies should not be lost in the doom and gloom of the economic downturn. As the USGBC says, although there is no silver lining, the green attributes of building could be the “green lining” in this current cloud hanging over our economy’s head.

Scott Kriner is the president and founder of Green Metal Consulting Inc. He is a LEED Accredited Professional who began his career in the metal construction industry in 1981. His company is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, the California Association of Building Energy Consultants and the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). Scott can be reached by email at skriner1@verizon.net, or by phone at (610) 966-2430. You can also visit him on the web at www.greenmetalconsulting.com.  

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