Taking the LEED with Metal Roofing

Climate issues are making daily news headlines, and sustainability and “green” building is becoming an even more important part of the construction process. When designing and constructing homes, metal roof and wall cladding offer a host of environmental benefits. The examples below highlight ways to build greener with affordable, durable options.

Architect Nate Kipnis, FAIA of Evanston, Ill.-based firm Kipnis Architecture + Planning is a leader in sustainable design. One of the first to join the AIA 2030 Commitment, he utilizes metal roofing in his designs to add environmental function at an affordable cost. In Chicago’s North Shore area, he utilized PAC-CLAD standing seam metal roofing to provide many green features: “The roof shape is asymmetrically arranged to collect as much storm water as possible. And the roof is sloped at two different angles—the summer angle and the winter angle,” explained Kipnis. The steeper, south facing roof supports solar thermal panels, optimized for the low winter sun. The shallower, south facing section includes solar PV panels, whose electrical production is maximized for the middle of the day in the summer to reduce CO2. The asymmetrical roof also funnels water onto the green roof, an outdoor space accessible from the master bedroom and the main hallway. Thanks to the roof and other sustainable design features, this home achieved LEED Platinum certification.

Kipnis also specified PAC-CLAD Snap-Clad panels when designing a farmhouse-style retreat (complete with silo-inspired turret!) within the city of Chicago. Kipnis notes that rooftop solar panels are a standard element in many of his residential efforts, and that with PAC-CLAD standing seam products, “It’s so easy to attach solar panels to it—it’s easy to clip on and it’s raised up off the roof, so you get some air underneath.” He also appreciates the wide variety of colors and the Cool Color finishes, which contribute to the environmental benefits of a metal roof.

Barry Alan Yoakum, FAIA, of archimania is a Legacy LEED Accredited Professional with over 30 years of experience in implementing sustainable design strategies. When he designed Civitas, a home for his own family, he took the opportunity to answer a question he sees as particularly critical today: “How does a modern piece of architecture begin to solve the problems of the planet?”

This question led Yoakum to design and construct a home that earned LEED Platinum certification and is one of the first U.S. homes to meet the goals of the AIA 2030 challenge a full decade ahead of that effort’s target date. It is also the first single-family home in the Americas to be registered as a Zero Energy/Zero Carbon home, according to standards established by the International Living Future Institute.

For the exterior, Yoakum says, “We went through a process of energy studies and aluminum started coming in” as a favored choice. “If you install it correctly, it will last forever.” Petersen supplied almost all the aluminum used in the project, supplying 15,200 sq. ft. of panels and sheet metal. The home also features two roof levels with PAC-CLAD metal roofing panels. They help capture rainwater and provide support for solar panels.

Whether a traditional style nestled in an older neighborhood or an ultra-modern standout like Yoakum’s home, metal roofing and wall panels can meet the architectural challenges of each unique residence. A wide range of styles and colors offer endless opportunity to improve and maintain sustainability.

Learn more about PAC-CLAD’s residential metal applications; our wide range of cool colors and finishes, including metallics, wood grain and ore finishes; and our outstanding non-prorated 35-year finish warranty. Want a personalized consultation? Contact your local representative or schedule a virtual meeting today!