Qnect Blog | AEC Industry

As the steel sector searches for sustainable solutions in the carbon heavy construction industry, it is crucial not to overlook the power of conservation and efficiency. Decisions made early in the design process, using quality data, have a major impact on a building’s carbon footprint. In fact, when we use early data to our advantage, steel becomes a much more sustainable building material.

Over the past year, I’ve heard from engineers that their clients are now asking how they are reducing embodied carbon in their designs. Back in the fall I shared some strategies for how to  do this (AECBytes, Dec 2022). However, with so many approaches that engineers can take, it may feel overwhelming knowing where to start. Many engineers are now asking the question: What are the most impactful actions I can take to reduce embodied carbon?  One engineer said to me, “If I design the structure efficiently to the building code, am I not already doing everything I can?”