The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) has reported that the US steel industry has reduced its energy intensity per ton of steel shipped by approximately 31% comparing 2008 to 1990. This figure has fallen slightly from 33% in 2007, due to a large drop off in production starting in the fourth quarter of 2008, when the US economy went into a free fall. On average, 1.19tns of carbon dioxide was emitted in 2008 for every ton of steel produced in the US. The low CO2 intensity of American-manufactured steel coupled with its infinite recyclability is why products made of steel have such low environmental impacts during their life cycle. It is why steel is the material of choice in so many applications.