Using steel rebars in construction can indeed contribute to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but it’s important to understand how this works.

Recycling and Lower Energy Consumption: Steel rebars (reinforcing bars) used in construction are often made from recycled steel, which significantly reduces the energy required to produce them compared to virgin steel production. Recycling steel typically uses about 60-70% less energy than producing steel from raw materials. This reduction in energy consumption directly translates into lower GHG emissions.

Durability and Longevity: Steel rebars provide high structural strength and longevity to buildings, reducing the need for frequent repairs or reconstructions. When buildings last longer and require fewer materials for maintenance, there’s a reduced demand for additional construction materials over time, lowering the overall carbon footprint.

Innovations in Low-Carbon Steel Production: Advances in steel manufacturing, such as using electric arc furnaces (EAF) powered by renewable energy, further reduce emissions. These methods emit significantly fewer greenhouse gases compared to traditional blast furnace methods.

Efficiency in Reinforced Concrete Design: Steel rebars enable engineers to use concrete more efficiently, meaning less concrete can be used while still maintaining the structural integrity of a building. Concrete production is a major source of GHG emissions, so reducing concrete usage lowers the overall environmental impact.

Conclusion:
While the actual reduction in emissions depends on various factors—such as the percentage of recycled steel, the energy source used for production, and the efficiency of the construction design—it is possible to achieve up to a 50% reduction in GHG emissions in some cases by optimizing the use of steel rebars.