{"id":38360,"date":"2020-02-26T21:08:50","date_gmt":"2020-02-26T21:08:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sawcuttingspecialties.net\/?p=38360"},"modified":"2020-02-26T21:08:50","modified_gmt":"2020-02-26T21:08:50","slug":"environmental-impact-concrete-cement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sawcuttingspecialties.net\/environmental-impact-concrete-cement\/","title":{"rendered":"The Environmental Impact of Concrete in Construction"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s the year 2020. There may not be flying cars and automatons roaming our cities. But, the need for a futuristic approach in our environment is dire. Your carbon footprint matters. Not only as a person, but an employee or business owner. It is the only thing that helps to either better or worsen our environment. With this being said, it\u2019s about time that we take a look at our own industries (cement, construction, concrete, etc.). Let’s delve into how they affect the lives of everyone around us and those of us yet to come.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For all of us at Sawcutting Specialties, we take our local environment seriously. We also take the lives of our children and grandchildren very<\/em> seriously. <\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s why we\u2019ve done the research for our own industry. In order to not only help our team feel at ease, but to help our countless customers as well.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

By breaking down the facts about concrete, we can see the truth. By determining how it affects our environment in comparison to other materials, we can feel at ease. And, by determining how we can reduce its impact even further moving forward, we can be informed. We can finally ensure that all of our products aid in a brighter tomorrow. On top of this, we can create projects that we can proudly stand by for decades to come. Having said that, we hope you approve of the hard work that went into this research compilation. Furthermore, we look forward to your thoughts on the subject both under this post and on our social media accounts as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Facts About Concrete\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

To begin, we must first address some of the main concerns. These are concerns that environmental activists have with the concrete industry as a whole. These concerns stem from the production and materials used. Specifically, those used to make the Portland cement that is utilized in 95% of projects on the market as of now.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>Building Green<\/span><\/a>, \u201cThe Inventory of Carbon and Energy at the University of Bath in the U.K. estimates that it takes 4 million Btu to produce one ton (0.9 metric tons) of portland cement. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, portland cement production accounts for about 0.33% of the annual energy consumed in the U.S, roughly equivalent to the amount of energy in 13 million tons (12 mmt) of coal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Considering how much concern goes into coal usage in America and how cement production holds up against this other carbon-emitting giant, it\u2019s no wonder why many eco-friendly companies have criticized the industry and sought cement alternatives.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In conjunction with these statistics, another source, <\/span>Del Zotto Steel and Concrete<\/span><\/a> states, \u201cIf you\u2019ve been contracted to make any kind of building, odds are you\u2019ll be using cement for slabs, walls, tunnels, and more. Cement is made throughout the world by heating limestone and clay to a high temperature in kilns, a process which releases high amounts of carbon dioxide. The fossil fuel generally used to heat these kilns also releases the gas as it burns. But modern society can\u2019t do without cement.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

However, despite these facts, many new studies have revealed that the fear of utilizing cement in projects across the globe may be a bit more premature than we once thought.<\/strong> <\/span><\/h4>\n

In fact, some studies have revealed that concrete not only is recyclable and efficient for building purposes but actually absorbs carbon emissions over its lifetime as well making up for a large portion of the carbon it emits during the production process.\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

According to <\/span>Science Magazine<\/span><\/a>, \u201c[a team of Chinese scientists, including physicist Zhu Liu, now at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena] estimate that between 1930 and 2013, cement has soaked up 4.5 gigatons of carbon or more than 16 gigatons of CO2, 43% of the total carbon emitted when limestone was converted to lime in cement kilns. That\u2019s more than 20% of the carbon soaked up by forests in recent decades, they write.<\/span><\/p>\n

Given the information above, it\u2019s about time that we now analyze how concrete cutting and usage for projects actually affects our environment in comparison to other building materials below. By doing this, we can finally put to rest these environmental concerns and prove the exponential value in utilizing concrete for construction once and for all.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

How Does Concrete Cutting and Usage Affect our Environment Versus Other Materials?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Despite the statistics shown above, it is essential that we keep them in perspective. In the same article by Building Green, the author goes on to state, \u201cAs high as these numbers are, it\u2019s important to keep them in perspective. According to the University of Bath, cement has lower embodied energy per pound. Lower than steel, aluminum, fiberglass insulation, and many other building materials. Concrete\u2019s embodied energy is significantly less\u2014about the same as cellulose insulation. However, these \u201ccradle-to-gate\u201d figures are not directly comparable. This is because the materials have different properties and functions. Still, the numbers offer some perspective. Manufacturing Portland cement accounts for approximately 5% of the anthropogenic CO2 emissions worldwide. It also accounts for about 2% of total CO2 emissions in the U.S.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, \u201ca study published by<\/span> Nature Geoscience<\/span><\/a> suggests that once a structure is completed, the concrete and mortar used may absorb back a significant amount of carbon dioxide from the air, due to a natural chemical reaction with water and oxygen. This even applies to rubble from concrete demolition. The study indicates that perhaps 43 percent of the carbon dioxide a given volume of cement released into the air during manufacture is being soaked up again over time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

However, this is far<\/i><\/strong> from the only way in which concrete positively affects the environment and proves its sustainability over time<\/strong>. <\/span><\/h2>\n

On top of these facts, concrete is also a recyclable material that also proves its worth in many ways. Through its durability, thermal mass, and the availability and abundance of its raw materials. This includes a large proportion of secondary materials.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because concrete has a high thermal mass level overall, concrete helps to reduce heating and cooling energy usage, as well as the carbon emissions stemming from the AC units, found worldwide. Furthermore, concrete also demonstrates its strength and water tightness in regions such as the Netherlands that rely on concrete to form <\/span>natural disaster-resistant floating homes<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

These homes could very well be the future of areas across the globe plagued by flooding and also provide hydropower solutions that would reduce carbon emissions over time worldwide likewise.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Lastly, according to <\/span>The Concrete Initiative<\/span><\/a>, \u201cThe industry recognizes the impact of its resource extraction activities on the landscape. For example, the cement industry has developed a clear set of principles on quarry rehabilitation under the auspices of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Cement Sustainability Initiative. It has also invested in quarry rehabilitation programs. For example, the Landscape Rehabilitation Plan in the SECIL-Out\u00e3o Plant (Portugal) integrated a marl and limestone quarry back into the natural landscape, and restored the native vegetation.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With this being said, not only have recent studies suggested that concrete is recyclable, absorbs carbon emissions, could be a solution for flooding and climate change worldwide, and is highly durable compared to other materials being used in construction today. <\/span><\/h3>\n

In fact, on top of this, the leaders of this industry are also working tirelessly to encourage biodiversity and help counteract the other 57 percent of carbon emissions seen in concrete production overall.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Having said all of this, there are still other issues these leaders are hoping to nullify over time by reducing concrete\u2019s environmental impact even further in the upcoming decade. This is the final topic of discussion we chose to delve into below.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

How can we Reduce Cement\u2019s Environmental Impact Further?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Now, we’ve discussed both the positives and negatives of cement production and usage thus far. As such, it\u2019s time that we analyze the ways leaders aim to make concrete even more efficient over time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For starters, the production process is one of the main concerns that environmental groups and activists have with concrete currently. This is one of the main areas in which these leaders have sought to make improvements in the upcoming years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Such improvements include the way that the kilns are heated and the materials that concrete is made up of specifically. By affecting these two elements, you can create what is often considered to be \u2018green concrete\u2019. Through this, you can ensure that your construction projects are even more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To elaborate on these changes, let\u2019s start with substitutions to the materials currently being used in the production process. According to <\/span>Nearby Engineers<\/span><\/a>, \u201cGreen concrete is defined as concrete that uses waste material for at least one of its components, or concrete with a production process that does not cause environmental destruction. Green concrete is very similar to conventional concrete. But, its production requires less energy and causes less harm to the environment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the main concrete material alternatives include:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n