Photo: Designed by SFIA member raSmith, Middleton High School in Middleton, Wis., uses sustainable steel framing to back curtain walls and window penetrations.
It is widely known that steel is the most recycled material on the planet. But, there is much more to the steel sustainability story than recycled content. In an “Ask the Experts” article by Engineering News-Record, industry authorities discuss key trends and innovations in steel construction that are advancing sustainable solutions in America.
Industry authorities discuss key trends and innovations in steel construction in an “Ask the Experts” article by Engineering News-Record.
Steel Industry Pushes Toward Net-Zero Energy
“The American steel industry is the cleanest and most energy-efficient in the world,” says Robert Wills, vice president of construction at the American Iron and Steel Institute. “Of the seven largest steel-producing countries, the U.S. has the lowest CO2 emissions per ton of steel produced and the lowest energy intensity.”
The steel industry is deploying an array of partnerships and technologies in clean energy, efficiency advances and novel production techniques as it works toward carbon neutrality.
The U.S. has the lowest CO2 emissions per ton of steel produced and the lowest energy intensity.
Steel mills are migrating part of their energy consumption from coal and fossil-fuel-based electricity to solar, wind and other renewable sources. Their efforts involve a “holistic transformation of some production processes and preparations for commercially viable ‘green hydrogen’ systems,” says Fastmarkets, a cross-commodity price reporting agency.
Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) members ArcelorMittal Dofasco, Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., Nucor Corp., Steel Dynamics, Inc., United States Steel Corporation and Worthington Industries, Inc., are developing lower carbon steel production technologies and, as a group, are working to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050..
ResponsibleSteel
ResponsibleSteel is an international, non-profit multi-stakeholder membership organization. Its mission is to enhance the responsible sourcing, production, use and recycling of steel.
ResponsibleSteel:
- Is a multi-stakeholder forum to build trust and achieve consensus
- Develops standards, certification and related tools
- Drives positive change through the recognition and use of responsible steel
The ResponsibleSteel Standard covers a wide range of topics, such as:
- Health and safety
- Greenhouse gas emissions
- Water stewardship and biodiversity
Construction Industry’s Movement To Sustainable Buildings
Steel framing was used in San Diego’s first zero net energy building, the Alpine Library in Alpine, Calif.
Within the construction market, a movement is taking place in how building owners and investors view sustainability. As the risks associated with climate change rise, building owners and investors are seeking new ways to construct higher-performing, sustainable buildings.
“Owners and clients have a focus on sustainability today,” says Don Moore, president of the Carolinas Chapter for the Metal Building Contractors and Erectors Association. “Although they may not go after the certifications of LEED, many are incorporating those guidelines and principles into their programs to be better stewards of their efforts today and for the next team of managers that will take over.”
Thanks to advances in steel framing technology, it’s now possible to build structures using innovative construction techniques. Newer techniques allow construction crews to reduce the environmental impact of a building over its life — and minimize construction costs.
“Five to 10 years ago, there was a lot of debate about sustainability, that, ‘It’s nice, but I don’t want to pay for it,’” says Stephen Tross, chief investment officer of international investments at Bouwinvest. “Today, you don’t sacrifice returns for sustainability, you create returns with sustainability.”
SFIA Cold-Formed Steel Sustainability Task Group
The Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) recently launched a Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) Sustainability Task Group to help define sustainability as it pertains to the metal framing industry.
The goal of the SFIA task group is to align industry players on sustainability and take the lead in helping the industry meet the United States government’s developing green building goals for federally funded projects. BuildSteel will report regularly on the task group’s activities and continue to provide updates on the steel framing industry’s sustainability initiatives.
Experts Weigh-In On Sustainability Topics
How does steel sustain? Industry experts from the American Iron and Steel Institute, Metal Building Contractors and Erectors Association, and Metal Building Manufacturers Association provide answers to some thought-provoking questions, including:
- What makes America a global leader in clean steel production?
- How is steel optimized in building construction to reduce environmental impact?
- How prevalent is the use of recycled steel in today’s building market?
For answers to these questions, read the full article, Thought Leaders Emphasize Immense Value of Sustainable Steel Solutions, from Engineering News-Record.
Additional Resources
- Update #1 | Steel Framing Industry Sustainability Initiatives
- Why Building with CFS is the Most Sustainable Solution in Construction
- Again, Who Says It Is More Sustainable to Build With Wood Than Steel?