I’m sure you’ve heard the term (not color) “green” hundreds or thousands of times by now. It’s certainly been the buzzword for a few years. But what does it mean when it comes to storage cabinets or tool chests? Does anyone really care? Is green really better? Is it cheaper or more expensive than its non-green counterpart?
I can tell you with the utmost confidence that when it comes to garage storage cabinets, it makes all the difference and yes, people are really starting to care. Let me explain. Typically, garage storage cabinets of any kind are usually made of some sort of resin, steel, wood, or what I’ll focus on, aluminum. Aluminum is the best choice for your cabinets for many reasons and here are just a few.
Resin is plastic. Many plastic products are known to leach chemicals that act like the hormone estrogen. Even so-called BPA-free products have been found to contain estrogenic activity. This EA exposure has been shown to alter the structure of human cells and pose potential risks to infants and children. See article in USA Today’s Green House. Although it can be recycled, it does not compare to other materials in terms of strength, durability and aesthetics. Add in the potential health issues, and to me, it’s a no-brainer.
Let’s talk about wood. Don’t get me wrong; I like wood cabinets…in my kitchen, not in my garage or shop. There are plenty of aesthetically pleasing wood cabinets out there, but they are generally on the higher end of the $ scale. You should also take into account the environment in which your trunks, toolboxes and storage cabinets are usually located, a garage or workshop. Most of the time, a garage or shop can be subject to many different situations such as humidity, dirt, humidity, and large variations in temperature. Let’s be honest, wood can rot. It can mold, it can mildew, and it can deteriorate. The once beautiful finish will dull over time and will need to be maintained with varnish, lacquer or paint and these products are normally not environmentally friendly. And the big question when it comes to being green… how much deforestation has there been just to make them?
Ok, now we have the two less popular materials out of the way. To the main competitors, steel and aluminum.
Aluminum is a much less expensive option than steel, so it’s also a greener option. Aluminum can be recycled over and over again without degrading or losing any of its innate characteristics. No waste is key to cost control and environmental protection; and at the same time we are saving energy by doing so. Recycled aluminum requires only 5% of the energy needed to produce virgin aluminum
aluminum.
Aluminum, as a green product, is a better choice than steel due to its long life, structural strength, and corrosion resistance. Yes, aluminum is strong and durable despite its light weight. Heck, it’s the primary construction material in commercial airplanes.
Also, another key factor that makes aluminum a better environmental choice than steel is the fact that steel must be galvanized to withstand certain conditions. The galvanizing process has been linked to environmental hazards around the world.
Also, keep in mind that aluminum does not cause static discharge (important when working in a garage with flammable products), does not attract dust (keeping it cleaner and easier to maintain) and is completely hypoallergenic.
As for the ecological benefits again, aluminum is one of the most abundant resources on earth that helps save money, energy, and less space in landfills.
Moduline aluminum cabinets help contribute to LEEDS building certification. (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System created by the US Green Building Council. Make the smart choice, make the right choice, make the green choice. Choose Moduline aluminum cabinets.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/03/bpa-free-plastic-products-estrogen/1