Can green concrete revolutionize the construction industry?
Concrete is one of the most widely-used building materials in the world. It is commonly used in foundations, walls, ceilings, floors, and so on. Unfortunately, concrete is one of the largest contributors to manmade CO2 emissions around the world. In order to curb the carbon footprint created by concrete and cement production, researchers are looking to make this essential building material more environmentally friendly. Here are some the ways that researchers are looking to make concrete greener for the commercial construction industry.
- Graphene-Infused Concrete
Graphene is a lightweight, flexible semi-metal that is 200 times stronger than steel. This material is also near impermeable, and its addition to concrete makes it twice as strong and four times more water resistant than normal concrete. Because this graphene-infused concrete is stronger than regular concrete, half the amount is needed to complete construction projects. Naturally, this helps to cut down on the carbon emissions created during the concrete production process.
- Root Vegetables
Interestingly, researchers are using vegetables like beets and carrots to make concrete stronger and more durable. Scientists add nanoplatelets taken from vegetable fibers to cement to increase the amount of calcium silicate hydrate in the mix. Adding more of this compound makes the concrete stronger and denser. Because this concrete is stronger and more durable, less is needed to complete construction projects. As an added bonus, using vegetable nanoplatelets is cheaper than additives such as graphene.
- Coal Waste
Researchers have also developed ways to make concrete with coal fly ash. When using this material, the concrete doesn’t need to be heated, and cement does not need to be added. Not only does using coal fly ash cut down on the concrete production processes that create CO2 emissions, but it also prevents this byproduct from ending up in landfills. This is a dual ended way to help the environment.
These are some of the ways in which researchers are looking to make concrete more environmentally friendly. Curious to learn more about the newest green trends in the construction industry? If so, then turn to your Pleasanton contractor at Proforma Construction. Serving Pleasanton and the surrounding California area, our highly-trained team is ready to make your commercial construction dreams a reality.