The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has introduced a new Green Star 'Steel' credit, which aims to encourage environmentally responsible production, design and fabrication methods that result in efficient use of steel.
The GBCA, which operates the Green Star rating, says the new credit will remove the focus on high percentages of recycled steel content in new steel products, in which Australia is already the world leader, and instead encourage dematerialized efficiencies in the production of steel as a construction material.
Under the new 'Steel' credit, projects will be able to claim two points towards their Green Star rating if at least 95 percent of structural steel and reinforcing steel used in building is sourced from steelmaking facilities that meet best practice guidelines and are from steelmakers who are members of the World Steel Association's Climate Action Program.