Oct 6 2010
Ruukki and other leading European steel companies and steel construction organisations have signed a charter to promote sustainable, energy-efficient steel construction. The charter was signed in Brussels last week.
In Europe, buildings account for a higher share of total energy consumption than, for example, transport or industry. Steel is a sustainable, adaptable, completely recyclable and reusable material. This means that promoting steel construction can reduce the lifecycle energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions of buildings and help to prevent climate change.
"This charter takes Ruukki to the global front of increasingly greener steel construction. Our own research and development innovates energy-efficient construction solutions. For example, our prefabricated structures shorten construction time and increase materials efficiency. We are currently developing steel structures suitable for low- and zero-energy buildings and studying the utilisation of ground-source solar heat and energy coatings," says architect manager Petteri Lautso at Ruukki.
Actions under the Steel Network Sustainable Construction Charter include:
- increasing cooperation in steel construction
- raising the awareness of stakeholders of the benefits of steel construction
- promoting steel recycling and the reuse of steel components
- ensuring training and the dissemination of information