Production reforms for Weckman steel halls reduce their carbon footprint from manufacturing to commissioning: the amount of steel used in production will be reduced by up to 25%, which also decreases the environmental impact of hall transport and assembly. CO2 emissions will decrease by approximately one million kilograms per year solely due to the reduction in steel usage.
In Weckman halls, steel is used only where necessary, and other usage is minimized. “We design even the most demanding and complex structures as cost-effectively as possible without compromising on quality and durability. We will further optimize the use of steel, and its consumption in hall production will decrease by up to 25%,” says Tommi Purtilo, Product Line Manager for Weckman halls.
Renewing hall production brings significant multiplier effects
Every kilogram of steel reduced from production decreases carbon dioxide emissions by 1.5–2 kilograms. “At our current growth rate, we use approximately 500 tonnes less steel annually, which means carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by up to one million kilograms,” Purtilo estimates.
Road transport and the resulting emissions decrease in the same proportion as the amount of steel used. “The multiplier effects of our production changes are significant. Raw material transport and the shipping of the finished product from our facilities will decrease, which is reflected in fuel consumption and road wear,” Purtilo continues.
A smaller quantity of steel also speeds up installation times and reduces the use of heavy truck cranes and other vehicles on-site, which affects the volume of site traffic and, consequently, reduces the risk of accidents. “Particularly in inner-city construction projects, the reduction in logistics helps to cut down on noise and other nuisances caused by construction work to local residents,” Purtilo states.
GreenCoat® coated steel in Weckman sheet metal products reduces the carbon footprint of the halls
In all uninsulated Weckman steel halls, preference is primarily given to SSAB GreenCoat® coated steel, where part of the fossil oil used in the coating has been replaced with rapeseed oil. GreenCoat® steel is also preferred in sandwich walls and roof elements whenever possible, as it reduces carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the steel coating process.
“Approximately 60–70% of our coated sheet metal products are made of GreenCoat® steel. In Finland, SSAB uses about 20% recycled metal as raw material for its production. Their blast furnaces generate 7% fewer carbon dioxide emissions than the EU average,” Purtilo says.
A flexible structure guarantees a long service life for the steel hall
The minimum service life of Weckman halls is 50 years, but their lifespan often only ends when the need for use ceases. The halls are designed to be flexible: they can be used for several different purposes during their life cycle. There are no pillars in the middle of the halls, so they serve all kinds of uses, from tennis halls to industrial production facilities. For example, partition walls can be built as needed.
“The most environmentally friendly hall is one that does not need to be remanufactured: it gets a new life as a space suited to the next owner’s purpose. Several of our halls have been dismantled, moved, and erected in a new location with very minor modifications. When the hall’s life cycle finally ends, all the steel is 100% recyclable,” Purtilo summarizes.
In the future, recycled concrete will also be utilized in Weckman steel halls. “Manufacturing one kilogram of cement produces 0.7 kilograms of carbon dioxide. If we can replace half of the concrete mass in both the footings used for assembly and the floor with recycled concrete, we will also halve the emissions. In a building the size of an industrial hall, this means tens of thousands of kilograms fewer carbon dioxide emissions,” Purtilo calculates.
Greener building materials bring economic benefits
The future will bring financial incentives for choosing lower-emission building materials in both new construction and renovation projects. “Emissions during construction and use can affect, for example, the property tax on buildings or the subsidies available for construction. A green choice can bring financial benefits in euros and be a competitive advantage for building owners or landlords,” Purtilo states.
For example, operators whose buildings on the balance sheet have good ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) scores are more likely to attract responsible investors and can utilize their green credentials in their marketing.
“We are also constantly developing energy efficiency during the construction and use phases so that our halls can be heated with as little waste heat as possible. We design solar panel solutions for hall roofs so that everything needed for installation is taken into account already during the construction phase. This brings synergy benefits in panel mounting and can help secure additional funding for the project from ELY Centres or Business Finland,” Purtilo mentions.
This is how Weckman steel halls reduce their environmental impact:
-25% less steel, as well as fewer emissions from its manufacture and transport
-1 million kilograms fewer CO2 emissions per year
-60% of the halls’ sheet metal is made from more environmentally friendly GreenCoat® steel
-100% recyclable steel at the end of its life cycle
Suomi
Svenska