What Is Recycled Steel? - Tabitha Stine, General Manager, Energy Solutions, Nucor Corporation

“Our job is to recycle so that we can recover all of that scrap and goods that you and I are recycling in our garbage bins every week or recycling as we get new cars. And our job is to recover that because we make steel in a very clean and efficient process through what's called an electric arc furnace. So, we take all of that scrap, we melt it down, and we make new steel. It does not degrade. It has a continuous reusable life.…Depending on the different products of steel, that actually determines the recycled content that goes into them for the finishes and the quality of the steel that's needed.” 

Tabitha Stine on Electric Ladies Podcast

The UN Environmental Programme stated last year that, “The buildings and construction sector is by far largest emitter of greenhouse gases, accounting for a staggering 37% of global emissions. The production and use of materials such as cement, steel, and aluminum have a significant carbon footprint.” So, how do we reduce the severe impact of those building materials?

Listen to Tabitha Stine, General Manager of Energy Solutions and Services at Nucor Corporation, “North America’s largest steel manufacturer and recycler,” according to its website.  She’ll explain how recycled steel is made and more in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. They also share insightful career advice.

You’ll hear about:

• How recycled steel is made and where the steel comes from that is recycled.
• How structurally sound recycled steel is and how it’s tested to make sure and meet building codes.
• Which industries use recycled steel, why, and how the demand and supply line up.  
• How the steel industry is adapting to ensure automobiles and buildings are resilient to the ravages of climate change, including innovations in the works.
• Plus, insightful career advice, such as…

“Usually what holds people back is, people are not willing to raise their hand. And then you go 10 years and you haven't had guidance because maybe you have a manager that doesn't give you feedback. You have to advocate for yourself. You are your advocate. There are no others. You’ve got to assume nobody else will except for yourself and you go for it. And I would also stress that if you're also not mentoring others at every stage along your career, you're missing out on a big opportunity,” Tabitha Stine on Electric Ladies Podcast

Read Joan’s Forbes articles here.

You'll also like:

• Erin McLaughlin, Senior Economist, The Conference Board, about her new report on buildings, climate change and carbon emissions.
• Katie McGinty, Chief Sustainability Officer, Johnson Controls, on the power of buildings.
• Anna Siefken, Deputy Director, Federal Energy Management Program, Dept. of Energy, on how the federal government reduces the energy use and carbon footprint of its 350,000 buildings.
• Rachel McCleery, Senior Advisor, Treasury Dept. Inflation Reduction Act Program, on how to leverage the IRA to save money reducing a building or business’s energy use and carbon footprint.
• Laura Busse Dolan, CEO, Applied Imagination, which designs and builds miniature buildings from plants and botanicals.

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