Sustainability is no longer an option but a mandatory requirement in the global supply chain. Foreign direct investment (FDI) investors coming to Vietnam are increasingly focusing on green building certifications such as LEED (USA) or LOTUS (Vietnam). Steel structures, with their recyclability and modern manufacturing processes, play a central role in achieving these goals.
1. Steel and Green Building Rating Systems
1.1. LEED v4.1 (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
LEED is the world's most popular green building standard. Steel structures can directly contribute to many credits in LEED v4.1 BD+C (Building Design and Construction).
MR Credit: Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction: Steel is highly reusable. Steel frames can be dismantled and reassembled or completely recycled, reducing the environmental impact compared to concrete (which is difficult to recycle and often becomes construction waste).
- MR Credit: Sourcing of Raw Materials: Steel produced using electric arc furnaces (EAF) in Vietnam and around the world typically has a very high recycled content (averaging > 90% for structural steel). Using steel with a high recycled content helps achieve this certification score.
- MR Credit: Environmental Product Declarations (EPD): Leading steel manufacturers today all provide Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), transparently detailing the carbon footprint of their products. Hai Long, by selecting reputable steel suppliers with EPDs (such as Posco, Nippon Steel, or major domestic steel mills), supports investors in achieving this score.
1.2. LOTUS (Vietnam Green Building Certification)
LOTUS, developed by the Vietnam Green Building Council (VGBC), has been adapted to suit the climate conditions and construction practices in Vietnam.
- Local materials: LOTUS encourages the use of domestically produced materials to reduce emissions from transportation. Hai Long's ownership of three large-scale steel structure factories in Hai Phong and Hung Yen, utilizing both domestic and imported steel with on-site processing, is a significant advantage in achieving the "Local Materials" certification.
- Waste reduction construction: Hai Long's off-site fabrication process for steel structures minimizes waste at the construction site, a crucial criterion in both LEED and LOTUS (Construction Waste Management).
2. Circular Economy and the Sustainability of Steel
Steel is a prime example of a material suitable for the circular economy.
- Infinite Recyclability: Steel can be recycled multiple times without degradation of its mechanical properties (down-cycling). Each ton of recycled steel saves 1.5 tons of iron ore, 0.5 tons of coke, and reduces energy consumption by 75% compared to production from ore.
- Design for Deconstruction: Hai Long's bolted steel structure allows for easy dismantling, relocation, or expansion of the factory without demolishing the existing structure. This is a "future-proofing" feature that investors highly value in a rapidly changing market.
3. Conclusion
In the new era of construction, "green" and "sustainable" are synonymous with "efficiency" and "quality." By mastering green standards such as LEED/LOTUS and optimizing the steel product lifecycle through modern technology, Hai Long Construction not only meets today's requirements but is also creating sustainable values for the future. The combination of cutting-edge technology (TCVN 5575:2024, TCVN 2737:2023) and a sustainable development mindset is the strongest foundation for Hai Long's expansion into the global market.
