Some argue that building with steel is less environmentally friendly, due to the amount of energy it takes to manufacture. In fact, the evidence shows the opposite.
Let’s compare the material efficiency of 1 cubic metre of steel vs. 1 cubic metre of timber in the construction of a simple, two-storey 200m2 house with a 2.4-metre stud.
One cubic metre of timber produces 0.124 houses like this. The same volume of steel however, produces 3.3 houses (21 times more). What’s more, timber wastage is typically 20% against 2-3% for steel. It also is twice the weight of steel framing, so onward transportation requires more energy. The cherry on top, steel is up to 99% recyclable.
