Enhancing sustainability through structural concrete system selection

Abstract

The primary advancements related to improving the sustainability of concrete continue to focus on the reduction of carbon dioxide associated with the ingredients. The second most significant efforts are focused on the durability and longevity of concrete. While efforts in all these areas are very important, there are other ways to further improve the sustainability of the built environment with concrete, some having more significant long-term environmental benefits than further reductions of carbon dioxide of materials used to produce concrete. These benefits are often overlooked without proper consideration of available concrete systems. Proper consideration requires integrating the concrete system that economically satisfies the overall project requirements at the beginning of the design process. The discussion and examples provide information for designers and owners to consider the sustainability benefits of appropriate concrete system selection and consideration of the multi-attributes of concrete. This information is presented to encourage designers and owners to select concrete systems that minimise negative environmental impacts and improve the understanding of concrete construction compared with construction using other systems.