Steel Reuse in May issue of Modern Steel Construction

Steel Reuse in New Commercial Construction?? Never seen it before? Don't think it's possible? You're going to see it more and more as designers look beyond the easy recycling option of structural steel.

In the May 2010 issue of Modern Steel Construction you can read "Reclaimed Structural Steel and LEED Credit MR 3 - Materials Reuse", a great progressive article by Erika Winters-Downey with the AISC. Erika examines associated costs, testing, carbon footprint information, and the open communication between the steel fabricator and the Engineer of Record. She also discusses how, "reclaiming and reusing steel products provides a strong environmental option not available with many other construction materials." Great research and data to support a change in thought that needs to happen more and more. PlanetReuse was happy to help with research and provide information to help push the reuse industry further forward with materials that are commonly overlooked.

To read the article in it's entirety, click on the images or go here and flip to page 64.

Continue the Earth Day Commitment with LEED/Living Building Challenge Radius Requirements- SP'10- Newsletter

Last week’s Earth Day celebration marked a wonderful upsurge in attention to sustainable activities. Many cities planned week-long activities to increase awareness of recycling and energy efficiency, offering significant opportunities to educate youth and shift mindsets for daily routines.

The official holiday is also a good time to consider your personal and professional goals for aiding the planet throughout the year. The Earth Day mindset can certainly apply to the professional world, specifically in how projects are conceived and constructed. A major way to think sustainably in the building process is to source and specify local and regional materials. This cuts down on the fuel consumption and pollution necessary to truck materials long distances.

The USGBC’s LEED requirements have successfully promoted this practice by establishing criteria that encourages sourcing materials within a 500-mile radius. Cascadia’s Living Building Challenge Project requirements raise the bar by requiring all materials to be sourced from within a more restricted radii based on material weight (250, 500 and maximum of 1,000 miles from origin/source and project site). But even projects that aren’t pursuing certification can benefit from local and regional sourcing.

PlanetReuse works with clients to source materials as close to the project site as possible, both for sustainable and financial reasons. “Not only is it good for the environment, it also cuts down on the transportation costs,” said Tim Bensman, PlanetReuse Operations Manager. “Reduced shipping costs, a smaller carbon footprint and landfill diversion all in one makes sourcing local reclaimed materials an attractive choice.”

The company helped source and coordinate many reclaimed materials for the first two projects slated for Living Building Challenge certification in the Omega Center for Spiritual Living and the Tyson Research Center at Washington University. “Providing regional, reclaimed material options can go a long way in helping design teams hit their goals,” said Nathan Benjamin, PlanetReuse’s Principal + Founder.

Sourcing materials locally reduces your projects carbon footprint, an admirable goal whether or not you plan to pursue certification. Committing to this practice keeps the purpose of Earth Day—to promote a more sustainable world—active year round.

PlanetReuse featured in Architect magazine!

PlanetReuse has been featured in the March issue of "Architect" magazine! If you keep reading just past the "Color Me Sustainable" and "A Plan for Haiti" articles, you will find in the culture section an article about how, "these matchmakers want to find the perfect used materials for your project." Featured in the piece are both the Principal+Founder Nathan Benjamin and Operations Manager Tim Bensman.

"The great thing about entrepreneurship is there's always a gap to be filled. Nathan Benjamin started planetreuse.com in January 2008 as a Craigslist/eBay-type site for reclaimed building materials that could be used in new commercial projects. He realized, however, that although the listings were diverting waste from landfills, they weren't addressing the communication gap between design and construction teams and the deconstruction/demolition community. So Benjamin and his business partner, Tim Bensman, became brokers for reused materials."

To continue reading the article in it's entirety, either read on "Architect" website here or click on the second image which will enlarge it to full size!

More than Just Wood: The Many Faces of Reclaimed Building Materials - F'09 Newsletter

Mention reclaimed materials and the image pops: salvaged wood beautifully repurposed as paneling or flooring. While reclaimed wood is indeed one of the most popular reused materials, the range of materials sought and available extends far beyond that.

“Reclaimed wood is a classic, and it’s an idea most people are familiar with,” said PlanetReuse operations manager Tim Bensman. “But we’re seeing a growing market for steel, doors, access flooring, granite and marble. Steel, especially, offers huge potential for reuse, and along with that a huge potential for cost savings as well as a greater ability to achieve additional LEED material reuse credits.” The LEED MR system awards credit for reuse of a variety of reclaimed materials. PlanetReuse works with the design team early enough in the process to allow a huge list of options for consideration.

Ryerson University in Toronto has been studying steel reuse for a number of years, surveying designers, demolition contractors, salvage yards and steel fabricators to better understand the steel lifecycle. A 2006 report determined that construction steel reuse resulted in the reduction of between 3,000 and 4,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year, a number that could grow dramatically with increased awareness.

Steel recycling has always been popular, especially in Europe. The UK-based Steel Construction Institute estimates recycling rates at 85 percent or higher. But reuse of steel components—which as the purest form of recycling provides the highest benefit to the environment—demands a bit more quality control.

To create those standards, PlanetReuse is working with prominent structural engineers around the country to establish fundamental testing principles. The company is actively sourcing reclaimed steel from deconstruction contractors, delivering a message of profitability for quality steel components.

They’re also talking to design principals around the globe, both to in regards to available inventory and insight on how to incorporate reclaimed materials. In recent years, architects designing shorter-term buildings (like venues for the 2012 Olympics in London) have suggested demountable venues that can be partially or completely removed and reused elsewhere.

“We’ve really just scratched the surface when it comes to the diversity of reclaimed materials,” said Bensman. “The easier the process becomes the more you’ll see materials of all types available for incorporation into new building projects. Whether that’s tons of steel, a dozen doors or a small slab of granite, the key is communication between those who need it and those who have it.”