The MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSH) recently published several research briefs on the life cycle assessment of concrete structures that further supports concrete as the material of choice for sustainable construction. The most recent briefs include:
• Homes: A Match for Concrete Innovation - Research confirms that improving current U.S. tightness levels to European standards would reduce by up to 40% HVAC power consumption. For homes, this suggests the use of concrete wall-roof systems with continuous insulation and structure that combine low conductivity with fewer pathways for air infiltration compared to conventional stick built construction.
• Roads: Smoothness Matters, But... - Research confirms that both smoothness and stiffness of pavements contribute to the overall environmental footprint of pavement systems. Deflection-induced fuel consumption dominates early on, while the increase in roughness over the design life governs fuel consumption in the long term. Due to its higher stiffness and lower roughness over time, emissions are generally lower for concrete over the pavement design life.
Click here to download MIT CSH technical briefs. Additional technical briefs summarizing MIT research, along with other research, can be found at www.nrmca.org/sustainability. Contact NRMCA's Lionel Lemay at LLemay@nrmca.org or 847-918-7101. The MIT CSH is funded through generous support of the RMC Research & Education Foundation and the Portland Cement Association.
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association