Steel as a Sustainable Material: A Discussion

Durga Raghavi T

In present trends of global warming, depletion of natural resources, increase of carbon emissions and many more reasons, the term ‘sustainability’ has come into major prominence. We had utilized all the benefits that nature has given to us; it’s our duty to transfer more of its beauty to our future generations without depleting our own resources. This is the brief meaning of sustainability. The key word sustainability and its importance have been utilized in every branch of science and engineering. In construction industry, use of sustainable materials and practices had started in each and every aspect. The organizations like USGBC in US and IGBC in India, etc., had evolved and introduced their plans and efforts of developing a sustainable world. Many materials had been developed for sustainability and steel is one which has major advantages. Steel is recyclable, earthquake resistant, non-combustible, does not warp &creep, non-vulnerable to terminates, sooner time of construction, cost reduction etc. It’s has great importance as green building material. Steel provides benefits in all aspects like socially, environmentally and also financially. Though it provides these many advantages, it is mostly confined to hilly areas. Its utilization is confined to lesser extents. Its value has to be known and further researches has to be done, to utilize it in all construction types in major way and also to be more structurally stable.