The American Institute of Steel Construction has released updated environmental product declarations (EPDs) “to help designers and building owners design more environmentally friendly buildings and bridges,” according to an AISC news release.
The organization develops industry-average environmental product declarations (EPDs) for three products: fabricated hot-rolled structural sections, fabricated steel plate, and fabricated hollow structural sections (HSS)—the latter developed with the Steel Tube Institute. “These documents are designed to facilitate an accurate, apples-to-apples comparison of the structural materials on the market today,” the release says. These documents are updated every five years.
“Many people associate steel with old smokestacks and air pollution, but structural steel is now the premier green building material,” said AISC President Charles J. Carter, SE, PE, PhD. “Over the past three decades, the steel industry has reduced greenhouse gas and overall emissions by 36%. And the American structural steel industry is leading the way to a greener future with a carbon footprint nearly half the world average. By comparison, Chinese structural steel has three times the global warming potential of domestic steel.”
Many rating systems (LEED V4), standards (ASHRAE 189.1), green building codes (IgCC), and specific customers require the submission of environmental product declarations (EPDs) for products delivered to the project site. These EPD life-cycle assessments provide information on environmental impacts related to the manufacture of the product, including global warming potential, ozone depletion, acidification, eutrophication, and ozone creation.
AISC works with its mill members to develop industry average EPDs for structural steel produced in the United States. In addition to quantifying the impacts of the mill processes, the EPD work quantifies the industry average per ton environmental impacts of the fabrication process.
Related Stories
Sponsored | | Jun 18, 2015
How to earn respect as a leader
Employees will give you minimum effort if the only reason they respect you is for your authority
Building Materials | Jun 12, 2015
Construction materials prices up in May, down year-over-year
Prices for inputs to construction industries rose by 1.1% in May—the largest month-over-month increase in more than two years.
Office Buildings | Jun 12, 2015
Houston's energy sector keeps office construction humming
Colliers International projects continued expansion this year in its quarterly report on national office market.
Office Buildings | Jun 11, 2015
Pop-up tree-office opens in London borough of Hackney
London's Hackney borough welcomed a new kind of workspace to Hoxton Square—the TreexOffice.
Office Buildings | Jun 9, 2015
Hines planning $300 million office tower for Denver skyline
Designed by Pickard Chilton, the 640,000-sf tower is geared for large-scale tenants, with features like floor-to-ceiling glass, a 5,000-sf fitness center, a tenant lounge, and a series of outdoor terraces.
Sponsored | Building Team | Jun 9, 2015
Is your firm social enough?
The overwhelming majority of A/E/C firms are engaged in social media. But to what end?
Contractors | Jun 8, 2015
ABC: 49 states report decline in construction unemployment rate
Five Plain States reported the lowest unemployment rates for construction workers in April.
Sponsored | Metals | Jun 4, 2015
How big of a building do I need?
Here is some advice on how metal buildings can be a solution for space shortages
Sponsored | Building Team | Jun 3, 2015
Succession planning starts with developing your leaders
Two-thirds of U.S. companies still admit that they have no formal succession plan in place, a 2014 survey conducted by the National Association of Corporate Directors found.
Building Team | Jun 3, 2015
Irvin E. Richter of Hill International receives Lifetime Achievement Award from CMAA's Mid-Atlantic Chapter
The award was given in recognition of his dedication, innovation and leadership in the area of project management and construction claims services
