Concrete Solutions
World’s Most Used Material
According to the Global Concrete and Cement Association, Concrete is the world’s most used material*, after water, and we can see why. Whilst it does get a bad rep in terms of sustainability, which we will broach in a moment, the benefits of concrete are countless. In a fast-developing world, concrete is reliable, it is easy to work with, strong and safe. With climate change being an added factor in the challenge to make future proof housing, concrete can be trusted to withstand the increasing pressures.
The biggest contributing factor to concrete being classed as bad for the environment is the CO2 levels that the production outputs. Concrete is largely a mixture of aggregate, bonded with cement. Cement is produced by firing clay and limestone in a furnace. When it is heated, CO2 is produced. This output accounts for up to 7% of global CO2 emissions*, which is three times that of the aviation industry. It is this chemical reaction that causes 70% of the sectors emissions, the rest comes from firing the furnaces themselves. It is estimated that creating a tonne of cement produces an equal tonne of CO2.
Other materials used within concrete can have a detrimental effect to the environment too. Whilst sand is a common enough material, it is used in large quantities for concrete. As it is a heavy substance, it doesn’t viably work well as an exported material and, as most people can find sand on their doorstep, it is mined locally. This is hugely beneficial overall, however, in places that are developing rapidly, large amounts of sand need to be acquired. People need to be careful with its displacement as mining sand from river estuaries, for example, can destroy the stability of the area and lead to flooding. Mining beaches can be detrimental to animal habitats.
Benefits of Concrete
Whilst, clearly, the production of concrete is a massive contributing factor to global warming, the benefits of concrete mean properties can often withstand the impact of extreme weather caused by that global warming. Concrete does not burn. In the event of a flood, concrete can retain its structural integrity, resulting in minimal waste of materials. On top of this its versatility means it can be moulded into any shape, making it easy to build with. It is 100% recyclable. Maintenance costs are low, as are running costs for those without air conditioning, the thermal mass will reduce overheating. Concrete’s good acoustic performance means there is less reliance on finishes and materials that have a short life span.
Those within the concrete production industry know that changes need to be made and aim to make concrete production carbon neutral by 2050. It has already been reduced 19% since the 1990s. However, it is obviously a huge task. Between April and May, the SOLID team will be taking time to explore the viability of this promise, alternative building materials and improvements within the concrete industry.
*https://gccassociation.org/sustainability-benefits-of-concrete/
*https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2021/1031/1256726-concrete-co2-emitter/