Sustainability Designer Toolkit

AISC's Sustainability Toolkit for Designers is here to provide practical tools and knowledge for designing sustainable steel structures.


Our resources, including steel EPDs, specification language, and design guidance, will empower you to make data-driven decisions that reduce embodied carbon and enhance sustainability. The toolkit also includes a curated Sustainability Steel Academy course, case studies, and myth-busting FAQs.

Whether you're looking to optimize designs, understand steel's full life cycle, or address common misconceptions, this toolkit is your comprehensive guide to achieving your sustainability goals.

Modern Steel Construction MagazineEnvironmental Data--At Your Fingertips

Examine structural steel's low environmental impacts--vetted by third parties--in Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which transparently and comprehensively represent steel construction products. AISC maintains industry-wide EPDs for hot-rolled sections, HSS, and plate, plus we curate a list of mill-specific EPDs.

Modern Steel Construction MagazineInnovative Steel & Wood Hybrid Design

Get the best of both worlds--while significantly reducing the embodied carbon from traditional floor systems. AISC Design Guide 37, Hybrid Steel Frames with Wood Floors demonstrates how you can capitalize on the strengths of both materials to achieve efficient and sustainable structural systems.

case studiesGreen Design in Action

Through innovative design and the use of sustainable building materials, designers can reduce carbon emissions and contribute to a more sustainable built environment. Explore real-world applications of sustainable steel construction through detailed case studies!

myth-busting steel sustainabilitySustainability Fact and Fiction

Which common misconceptions about steel production have you heard? Challenge your beliefs about green construction with our Steel Sustainability Myth-Busting guide! You'll learn about steel's recyclability, its strength-to-weight ratio, and its ability to be reused.

Steel AcademyTake Your Knowledge to the Next Level

Explore the key concepts of sustainability in the context of structural steel with our Sustainable Steel Academy Course! The free course provides insights into life cycle assessment, embodied carbon, and design for deconstruction--and, if you upgrade to the paid version, you can even earn PDHs.

Modern Steel Construction MagazineAdditional Resources

AISC provides a comprehensive collection of resources to help you implement sustainable practices in your structural steel projects. Find information on Buy Clean policy guidance, the sustainable steel supply chain, and more.