Build Green – Build with Concrete

Did you know that concrete is the most used man-made material in the world? There’s more than one cubic meter of it for every person alive right now, and that’s enough concrete to run a $35 billion industry in the US, with over two million workers.

One who doesn’t know much about concrete – and how it is used today – might wonder how big an impact the construction material has on the environment. Surely, that’s going to drain the earth’s natural resources? Surely, concrete is responsible for stumbling block upon stumbling block to our path to sustainability?

Not quite. In fact, concrete has grown to become one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly construction materials available today.

Composed of cement, water, fine and coarse aggregates, and other admixtures, concrete is gaining popularity these days for those who wish to build with the safest, most durable, and most sustainable materials. That’s because the material has excellent natural properties that allow for superior fire resistance, a long service life, and great durability. New ways of recycling concrete (and not just shipping it to landfills) are also spreading, in conjunction with the environmental awareness of green contractors, engineers, home builders, home owners, DIYers, manufacturers, the government, and environmental groups and organizations.

When comparing the cradle-t0-cradle impact of building with concrete as opposed to building with other materials, concrete simply stands out. A reinforced concrete structure has thermal mass that moderates daily temperature swings and reduces energy consumption by as much as 35 percent. Simply put: it’s the smartest, greenest choice for those who are committed to sustainable development.

Here’s a rundown of some of the green properties and benefits of concrete:

• Durability: Concrete has a long service life, and it can provide the durable foundations that many architects, engineers, and developers are looking for.

• Recycling: Concrete can be made using recycled or reclaimed industrial materials, thereby easing the strain on landfills. Of course, concrete recycling also contributes toward reducing carbon emissions – because even at the end of a concrete building or pavement’s life, the concrete can still be recycled.

• Local production: Concrete is a material that can be produced locally, thanks to the fact that its main ingredients – crushed stone, gravel, sand, and water – are easily available in many locations. The ingredients mentioned above are also responsible for about 90 percent of the volume of the concrete mixture, which means that concrete is readily mixed, and that there’s no need to make new materials just to produce it. Moreover, since concrete is made-to-order, making it and building with it result in less waste, less energy consumption, and less need for transportation and handling.

• Energy efficiency and conservation: One of the biggest advantages of building a home with concrete is that the material has a thermal mass that can reduce temperature swings in the house, thereby conserving energy that would otherwise have been spent on heating, cooling, and infrastructure costs.

• Green landscaping: With qualities that help prevent water runoff and the heat island effect, concrete – particularly impervious concrete – is a smart choice for projects like green landscaping and green rooftops.

• Water management: Pervious concrete has the natural properties needed to percolate water into soil and recharge aquifers. Concrete also provides a great way of preventing runoff (usually polluted) from getting into and overwhelming streams and lakes and other bodies of water.

• High albedo: This basically means that concrete can reflect more light and absorb less heat. This makes concrete ideal for paving and roofing – not only because it encourages more natural light to illuminate a house structure, but also because it can minimize the heat island effect and cut down (by as much as 18 percent) on the need for air conditioning.

• Better indoor air quality: Concrete promotes better indoor air quality by cutting down on VOC-related carbon emissions; the material can also combat the sick building syndrome and, as mentioned above, minimize levels of heat absorption.

• Safety: Concrete can minimize health hazards and risks, and provides excellent resistance against fire, wind, vibration, seismic movement and impact, and even sound transmission.

As the material continues to surge in popularity among builders, architects, and engineers, concrete is also used in combination with other construction materials to achieve green certifications, like that provided by the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System.

Of course, concrete is also pretty versatile when it comes to providing unique aesthetic possibilities. With a range of colors and finishes, concrete can be used to create structures that not only provide superior energy and environmental performance, but also look aesthetically pleasing.

Keep Reading and Check out these Articles:

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3. Green Hero of Chicago- Joe Silver: Supplying for the Green Demand
4. Green Building Glossary
5. Green Network