Today, when building or buying a building, many people consider the effects this action will have on the environment. Some building materials produce a lot of pollution in the production process and they need to be replaced often, which contributes to landfills—these materials are not good for the environment. On the other hand, steel is! Not many people would think green when choosing steel, but this eco-friendly building material is excellent for the environment. Here are all the reasons why steel is a great choice for green building:
Steel is an eco-friendly building material that is endlessly recyclable
Once a piece of steel is produced, in theory, it can be recycled over and over again. As long as it is properly collected after use and brought to the recycling company, it can be useful to society forever. And thanks to its magnetic properties, steel is easily recovered from other materials. There are two types of so-called steel scrap: pre-consumer and post-consumer steel. The first type is a product of the steel manufacturing process, and 100% of the excess steel from the production is recycled on the spot. The second type of steel scrap includes steel at the end of a product’s life. This steel is collected, shredded, baled and recycled.
It provides speedy construction
One of the main benefits of steel used in construction is the easy and speedy construction it provides. This exactly is the reason why so many people use steel in its raw form for construction. The building process with steel is short, so it’s easier to find ways to reduce energy waste and generate resource-saving.
The manufacturing process is getting cleaner
Steel is produced in two ways: basic oxygen steel production (allows 350 tons of steel to be produced in 15 minutes) and electric arc furnace (scrap turned into high-quality steel). These two processes do release CO2, but manufacturers are constantly finding ways to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. In the last 40 years, the emission has been reduced by 60% and counting.
Steel is durable
Steel is resistant to all sorts of weather and natural phenomena, even those extreme ones like Australia’s sun. Your trusted steel supplier in Sydney can provide you with quality steel that will stay safe and reliable for many, many years. People usually don’t have to worry about steel buildings deteriorating due to natural disasters. And since you only have to see your supplier and manufacturer once, your sturdy building will have a smaller carbon footprint from the start.
Steel fabrication is efficient
Every day, steel fabrication is getting more and more efficient. Thanks to computers and smart tech, the standard of design and detailing is skyrocketing. And the best thing is that high-quality steel fabrication can be conducted on-site, so the overall pollution by the supply chain can be reduced.
It reduces energy usage
Steel buildings can be made to look beautiful, feel comfortable and produce minimal energy waste. The energy usage in steel buildings can produce resource waste reduction, which is great for residents and the environment. With effective steel insulation efforts, you can reduce energy loss and boost the environmental friendliness of your building.
Steel offers long-term benefits
As mentioned above, this eco-friendly building material has a very long life span which offers long-term benefits for the building and the environment. With long-span steel, you can enjoy reduced foundation efforts and erection times, while also benefiting from better-integrated buildings. Additionally, steel is easy to modify, modernize and adapt, which is great for our ever-changing future.
There is no doubt that you should use steel for your next building project. Thanks to its recyclable properties, durability and ease of production and construction, steel is one of the greenest construction materials out there that deserves all our attention.
