Green Buildings and Structural Engineering

Structural engineers design green buildings using the LEED™ Green Building Rating System™, a point-based system for certifying the level of a building’s sustainability. Structural materials play a large part in increasing a building’s sustainability. Using concrete, for example, can help in brownfield redevelopment, reduce urban heat islands, mitigate water runoff, help meet minimum energy requirements, optimize energy performance, and increase the life of a building. Concrete and its constituents are usually available locally. Both concrete and steel can be recycled. Steel, fabricated in a shop, creates little to no on-site waste and has high recycled content. Attributes of these structural materials, and others, along with decisions made by design professionals help to lessen the impact a structure has on the natural environment.