Photo courtesy McElroy Metal
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) credits
The EA category in LEED v4 approaches energy from a holistic perspective, addressing energy use reduction, energy-efficient design strategies, and also renewable energy sources. Due to its dimensional stability, steel framing can contribute indirectly to the Optimize Energy Performance credit. Properly designed steel framing can provide an exceptionally tight building envelope, resulting in reduced air loss and better building energy performance over time.
Steel roofs offer an excellent platform for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems because of their long expected lifespans, which can meet or even exceed the 20- to 30-year expected lives of solar PV panels. These roofs can help designers attain points through the Renewable Energy Production credit. Additionally, proprietary connection and framing systems are available to mount PV panels directly to standing seams of steel roofing panels, eliminating the need for attachments that penetrate the roof.
Sustainable Sites (SS) credits
The SS category rewards decisions about the environment surrounding a building, with credits to emphasize vital relationships among buildings, ecosystems, and ecosystem services. The category focuses on restoring project site elements, integrating the site with local and regional ecosystems, and preserving the biodiversity on which natural systems rely.
Steel-intensive design can support multiple credits within this LEED v4 category. Since most of the steel structures and components are manufactured offsite, construction time and the likelihood of site disturbances are reduced, contributing to earning the Site Development–Protect or Restore Habitat credit. Additionally, many available steel sheet roofing products meet the Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) criteria in relation to the Heat Island Reduction credit, which results in reduced cooling loads and lower utility bills. Some of these products utilize reflective pigment technology, allowing for a wider range of colors that meet LEED v4 requirements.
The future of sustainability in the steel industry
As green building requirements continue to develop, the steel industry is expanding its efforts to improve both sustainability and transparency. At this time, some construction product manufacturers are working to develop HPDs, which are intended to provide a transparent path to determine the contents of products and their related health hazards, as well as reward building professionals additional credits within the LEED v4 rating system.
The North American steel industry is also working to refresh LCI data to keep its EPDs and life cycle assessment materials up to date with the latest industry innovations. Additionally, the industry is developing whole-building LCA comparisons that show the potential environmental impact of different construction materials in functionally equivalent buildings. These projects demonstrate the comprehensive environmental impacts across a variety of scenarios and climates, from raw material extraction to the end of a building.
Design/construction professionals, building owners, and the general public are becoming increasingly aware of the need to consider sustainability principles. An increased knowledge and understanding of the environmental impacts of building materials will lead to the construction of truly sustainable structures. As design professionals witness the impact of this increased demand, they will also experience continued improvement in tools to demonstrate how materials and products affect the environment in sustainable steel buildings.
| CASE STUDY: KLARMAN HALL, HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL |
 Designed by Boston-based firm William Rawn and Associates, Harvard Business School’s Klarman Hall will serve as a main gathering point for the global intellectual community in Boston. On completion, the facility will house a large-scale conference center as well as a performance and creative gathering space. State-of-the-art digital technology, multipurpose space, and the flexibility to accommodate up to 1000 guests are just some of the targeted key features in this $97.5-million project. Harvard broke ground on the project in April 2016 and construction is expected to be finalized this fall. Another key component of Klarman Hall is environmental sustainability. The project team is working to develop the building to earn Gold or higher certification under the new LEED v4 program. |
Mark A. Thimons, PE, LEED AP, is the vice-president of sustainability for the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). He is responsible for overseeing the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI), as well as research projects demonstrating the life cycle advantages of steel in the construction, automotive, and container markets. Thimons can be reached via e-mail at mthimons@steel.org.
