Sustainability Benefits of Concrete
It is easy to overlook the use of concrete in society. Concrete plays a vital part in our daily lives and in a functioning society. Its benefits to society are immense, being used to build our schools, hospitals, apartment blocks, bridges, tunnels, dams, sewerage systems, pavements, runways, roads and more.
Few people realize that concrete is, in fact, the most used man-made material in the world, with nearly three tons used annually for each man, woman, and child. Twice as much concrete is used around the world than the total of all other building materials, including wood, steel, plastic, and aluminum. None of these other materials can replace concrete in terms of effectiveness, price, and performance for most purposes.
Even fewer people are aware of the many environmental benefits that using concrete brings.
It is vitally important to develop products and systems that can be used to construct more durable, energy-efficient eco-buildings, and concrete can be used to do just this. Concrete, with its strength, durability and excellent thermal mass, should be a key component in eco-buildings of today and the future. In May 2008, The Guardian in the United Kingdom featured the first zero-carbon house developed by a volume housebuilder, in which concrete plays a critical role in maintaining internal temperatures.
