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Energy-saving metal buildings


Author: David Dzina
Date: 11/01/2009
URL: www.insulation.org


As a building owner, facility manager or leaseholder, you are facing tougher challenges every day. Energy conservation, reduction of carbon emissions and return on investments are no longer the problems of the future. They’re here now, and we’re all asking ourselves, “How can I make my metal building work for my tenants and/or myself?”

It’s easy; just ask yourself: “What metal building component has the highest and fastest return on investment?” The answer is fiberglass metal building insulation, or MBI.Let’s be honest, MBI has never been the favorite building component on the material list, but it’s quickly being brought back into the spotlight as a less costly and more efficient way to reduce energy costs, qualify for tax deductions, reduce carbon emissions, improve attractiveness to tenants, increase comfort, noise absorption and increase the building’s life span, value, etc. The benefits are endless and the energy-saving phenomenon is spreading throughout the nation, with the greatest benefit of all being the return on investment.

Energy Cost Reductions
The logic is simple: don’t run your air conditioner/ heater all day and you’ll cut back on your energy costs. Installing MBI in metal buildings, whether in a new building or when retrofitting an existing building, dramatically reduces the amount of energy needed to either heat or cool a metal building. Certified MBI provides an extremely cost-efficient method of reducing the thermal transfer of heat through the walls and roof of a metal building while simultaneously protecting against condensation build-up on the panels. Creating an energy-efficient workspace is proving to be a superior benefit to leaseholders or renters. As more and more vacant buildings become available, building owners are looking for new ways to attract tenants. But don’t think the monetary benefits of metal building insulation end with the tenants. Tax credits are readily available for building owners.

Tax Deductions
While new buildings benefit the most because of their readiness to be insulated with a double-layer system, retrofitting an existing building is becoming widely popular as an energy-conserving investment. Buildings with existing insulation or buildings without insulation are taking advantage of not only reduce energy bills, but also the added tax benefits associated with adding certified MBI.

Commercial building owners or leaseholders can qualify for a tax deductible of as much as $1.80 per square foot if 50 percent in energy savings is achieved. Fifty percent may seem tough, but there is also a 60 cents per square foot tax credit if 16 2/3-percent energy savings can be achieved. Of course,to claim a tax deduction the building owner must obtain a certification proving the building’s energy savings will be reached. To help with this, there are programs that can assist in providing compliance for building envelopes. The National Institute of Building Sciences has a Web site for mechanical insulation, which provides a wealth of knowledge and several types of calculators. To utilize this resource, go to www.wbdg.org/design/midg.php.

More recently, Senator Olympia J. Snowe (D-Maine) has proposed that this deduction be increased to $3 per square foot in fiscal year 2010—just another reason to take advantage of this opportunity.

Certified Fiberglass Insulation
Is there a difference in metal building fiberglass insulation? Yes. Not all fiberglass insulation is made the same, but third-party organizations, such as the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, Alexandria, Va., and the National Insulation Association, Reston, Va., ensure the materials manufactured are certified through the National Association of Home Builders, Washington, D.C. These are the only insulations recommended for your metal building. When qualifying for a tax credit, the last thing you want is for the building owner to realize the non-certified insulation you bought doesn’t recover to the stated R-value when delivered to your job site. The only choice as an owner or manager is to make sure the fiberglass insulation products you are using are certified by NAIMA and NIA through NAHB.

IEAP
In addition to MBI for roof and walls, upgrading other insulations should be considered. Properly insulating mechanical systems is another great opportunity to increase the building systems’ energy efficiency. Certified Insulation Energy Appraisers, trained by NIA’s Insulation Energy Appraisal Program,use a standardized approach to conducting insulation energy appraisals useful in design and maintenance of building systems. Appraisers can perform facility walkthroughs to outline dollar and energy savings and show the reduction of greenhouse gases available through the installation of insulation.

Developed in 2002, the IEAP is a two day course teaching professionals how to determine the optimal insulation thickness and corresponding energy and dollar savings using existing facility data; determine the amount of dollars and greenhouse gas emissions saved through the use of insulation; and provide a complete report using 3E Plus software. Students who take the training class and pass the exam become Certified Insulation Energy Appraisers through this accredited program. They are examined and certified through a third-party organization and recognized as professionals by facility managers and peers.

Visit www.insulation.org/training and click on Certified Insulation Energy Appraisers on the right side of the page to locate a trained professional in your area who can help you understand the value mechanical insulation can add to your facility and building processes.

Whether in walls or on ducts and pipes, insulation offers one of the best returns on investment of any energy-efficiency technology.Be sure you don’t overlook it as you think about how your building can work better for you.

David Dzina is the president and owner of Selle Supply Co., Lubbock, Texas, and serves as the chair of the Reston, Va.-based National Insulation Association’s Membership Committee and as a member of the Metal Building Laminators Committee. For more information, go to www.insulation.org.
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