(Akiit.com) It’s important to lead by example, but this doesn’t always have to be a matter of grand sweeping gestures. While activism, political engagement and raising your children to be aware, responsible citizens are crucial in ensuring your family’s legacy, you’d be surprised at how easily you can influence others for the better through everyday acts. Small charitable acts, a kindly word to a neighbor, even making ethically aware purchasing decisions can show your kids a positive example and help to pave the way for a better community.
One way in which you may not know you can assert yourself ethically, environmentally and economically is through the materials you choose to build your home out of. With African American homeownership declining in major cities, the very act of building a 
home is a step towards redressing society’s ingrained imbalance, but if you’re looking to build a home from the ground up, one of the most effective ways to do this is through the use of steel.
Steel is a far more sustainable material than wood, brick or concrete and its manufacture and construction are an integral part of our nation’s industrial infrastructure. It’s also an extremely safe, sturdy and cost effective building material. Looking at this metal building homes guide will hopefully illustrate just how effective and versatile material it is. For even more info, regarding this type of structure, feel free to search for metal building contractors in your area.
Let’s look at some of the ethical, environmental and monetary benefits of building your home with steel.
An ethical choice
The steel industry is a vital part of US industrial infrastructure. It is directly responsible for 100,000 jobs around the country, while the steel industry employs over 1 million Americans either directly or indirectly. Factory based steel fabrication supports a stable local workforce, benefiting families, creating opportunities for young people and helping to build stable communities all over the country, benefitting the economy and the social fabric of our society. Building with steel assists in the ongoing creation of skilled jobs in the steel industry as well as developing skills and education in the workforce.
An environmentally friendly choice
How we look after our planet says a lot about us and helps to create a better world for our children. We can set a great example by avoiding products like palm oil which are a major cause of rainforest deforestation, but building with steel is in fact far more environmentally sustainable than building with wood, brick or concrete. Steel can be multicycled an unlimited number of times with absolutely no detrimental effect on its strength. If a building made with steel is demolished, its components can be reused or melted down to create brand new components. Recycled steel accounts for 50% of new steel production all over the world, saving the planet a lot of environmentally damaging ore mining.
A financially responsible choice
Steel homes quick and easy to assemble, making them cheaper in terms of construction costs. But inch-for-inch steel buildings are significantly cheaper than those made of brick, stone, wood or concrete. A steel home costs between $50 and $65 per square foot, on average. That’s around 30 percent cheaper than a wooden house.
Staff Writer; Michelle Shaw