Sustainable Concrete Construction
The energy savings, resilience and associated greenhouse gas emission reductions from constructing buildings and infrastructure with concrete more than offset the emissions from cement manufacturing over the life of a structure.
There are many reasons why concrete is a sustainable building material:
- Durability (Long life) – concrete structures are long-lived, life spans for concrete building products can be double or triple those of other common building materials.
- Low life-cycle cost – concrete consumes minimum materials, energy and other resources for construction, and requires little to no maintenance throughout its service life. concrete can be produced in the quantities needed for each project, reducing waste.
- Safety and reliability – concrete does not rust, rot or burn.
- Resilience – concrete is resistant to natural and man-made disasters. Because of its durability, concrete structures will not require additional carbon release to produce additional materials used for repair.
- Thermal mass – homes built with concrete walls, foundations, and floors are highly energy efficient because they take advantage of concrete’s inherent thermal mass and ability to absorb and retain heat. This means homeowners can significantly cut their heating and cooling bills and install smaller-capacity HVAC equipment.