The 5% Solution

Opportunities abound in the field of structural design to make a meaningful contribution towards the reduction of our carbon footprint. Typical construction materials—steel and concrete—are among the highest CO2-emitting materials during their production. Production of one tonne of steel emits 1.8 tonnes of CO2, and production of one cubic meter of concrete, on average, emits 250 kg of CO2. A modest reduction in the use of steel and concrete in structural designs will go a long way in reducing CO2 emissions. The analysis of structural designs by us and other authorities shows that a reduction of 5% of steel and 5% of concrete in a building can be achieved without impacting the structural integrity by just being a little more judicious while designing. Being environmentally mindful while designing structural elements is what we call the 5% Solution.