Abstract
It is well known that steel is the backbone of our built environment. Steel based buildings can be refurbished, steel components can be reused, and at the end of its life steel can be completely recycled back to new metal with no loss of properties. In fact it is part of a system with a number of options to recirculate products and provide innovative solutions. In a changing market where clients increasingly value the whole life cost of their investments over the initial capital cost there is a new opportunity for steel-based construction. The underlying benefits of steel in sustainable construction are described, employing examples ranging from steel in structural frames through the increased use of off-site manufacturing to a demonstration of what is possible if existing technologies are combined to produce buildings that are quick to build, are adaptable in use, are energy efficient, are comfortable to live in and are constructed with reusability and recyclability in mind. In conclusion, a number of observations are made on the practical things that steel can contribute to increasing the quality and sustainability of our built environment.
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