HORIZONTV FEATURING BD+C: WATCH EPISODES ON DEMAND AT HORIZONTV

AISC says steel industry has reduced greenhouse gas and overall emissions by 36% since 1992.

AISC says steel industry has reduced greenhouse gas and overall emissions by 36% since 1992.

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.

A new study by the American Institute of Architects and the Associated General Contractors of America focuses on improving the relationship between architects and contractors.

The Biden Administration recently waived tariffs on solar panels from four countries in a move advocates say will accelerate the clean energy transition and benefit national security.

The 2021 Hospital Energy and Water Benchmarking Survey by Grumman|Butkus Associates found that U.S. hospitals’ use of fossil fuels is declining since the inception of the annual survey 25 years ago, but electricity use is dipping more slowly.

The Florida Legislature recently passed a bill to beef up building inspection requirements for many of the state’s condominiums.

The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has launched a new government-wide effort to boost national resiliency and reduce energy costs.

New Buildings Institute (NBI) recently released a guide to help schools identify funding programs for facilities improvements available from federal and state government programs.

The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) has released the first-ever set of U.S. recommendations for hybrid steel frames with mass timber floors, according to a news release.

HKS and The University of Texas at Dallas’ Center for BrainHealth are conducting a six-month study to improve the way the firm’s employees work, collaborate, and innovate, both individually and as an organization, according to a news release.

An audit of tall mass timber buildings turned up 139 such structures around the world either complete, under construction, or proposed.

Arlington County, Va., a Washington, D.C.-area community, is considering proposed legislation that would remove zoning restrictions on multifamily housing up to eight units in size.

A new study by the American Institute of Architects and the Associated General Contractors of America focuses on improving the relationship between architects and contractors.

The Biden Administration recently waived tariffs on solar panels from four countries in a move advocates say will accelerate the clean energy transition and benefit national security.

The 2021 Hospital Energy and Water Benchmarking Survey by Grumman|Butkus Associates found that U.S. hospitals’ use of fossil fuels is declining since the inception of the annual survey 25 years ago, but electricity use is dipping more slowly.

The Florida Legislature recently passed a bill to beef up building inspection requirements for many of the state’s condominiums.

Each day, our editors assemble the latest breaking industry news, hottest trends, and most relevant research, delivered to your inbox.