Building green has become more common in the United States. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system is partly responsible for the movement in the construction for building green structures. One of the materials that help to contribute to the overall environmental friendliness of many buildings and other construction projects in Michigan is the use of powder coating instead of other surface coverings for external structures and components.
Green Building Material
Green building practices embrace the use of environmentally friendly materials. This approach includes utilizing as much recyclable, reusable and earth friendly material and components as possible. This includes looking at not only what a material consists of but also what covers it. Metal coatings have played a considerable role in providing aesthetic and protective qualities to construction material.
Metal coatings come in a variety of types. Electroplating, liquid and powder coatings are three common surface coatings. They all provide varying degrees of protective qualities to the surface they cover. However, powder coatings offer green builders an advantage. Unlike their counterparts, they are more environmentally friendly. A powder coating:
* Does not emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
* Are usually applied to exterior components, therefore, do not come into contact directly with the residents or tenants of the structure
* Produces less waste during application
* Production methods result in greater recovery of the product and, therefore, less waste and increased line efficiency
* Requires less energy for production, packaging, and transportation than liquid coatings in particular
Michigan, finishing industries and construction companies, have come to realize the versatility and environmentally progressive nature of powder coatings.
The Green Powder Coating
When employed in the right applications, powder coatings are a green alternative for construction work. A powder coating effectively provides certain qualities to metal, plastic, wood, glass, composites and ceramics. This prolongs the life of the material – even under Michigan weather conditions while making the resulting product more environmentally friendly than other coating solutions.