Sustainability of Concrete as Compared to Other Building Materials - Assignment Example

Running Head: Sustainability of Concrete as Compared to Other Building Materials Student’s Name: Course Code: Lecture’s Name: Date of presentation: Sustainability of concrete as Compared to other building materials Sustainability includes economic, environmental, and social concerns for realising a long standing a long- lasting development to humanity. Sustainability of construction includes the lifecycle of all the production, utilization, and destruction, as well as the underlying material, activities and energy flows that generate influence on the planet. In this paper, I will discuss the sustainability of concrete when compared with two other alternative building materials in this case timber and steel (Moriconi, & Corinaldesi, 2003). Building and construction requires a lot of material input, both virgin material resources and recycled construction materials. These materials have a direct impact on the environment through the refining processes from extracted raw materials to finished building materials. The virgin materials are not final, and thus their recycling leads to improved performance. The building and construction sector produces large quantities of waste about 1100 kg per capita /per annum. This calls for an improved recycling technology. This has made recycling conscious countries put more focus on recycling (Naik & Kraus, 1999). The use of building and other associated construction activities creates more than 4% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, utilize about 40% of the gross energy generated globally and finally consumes more than 40% of the global material resource. (Naik & Moriconi , 2006) concludes that apart from the US, the rest of the world’s aim is to minimize the CO2 emissions by an average of 50% over the next 5 years in order to prevent large- scale climate change. Some experts however, argue that any reduction (Dhir, Henderson, & Limbachiya, 1998). The usage of energy during building service date, is known as operational energy, and is one of the vital sustainability issues. Sustainability of Concrete Concrete plays a crucial role in human life. Concrete virtually shapes the built environment around us, from homes, schools, hospitals, roads, dams, railways and sewerage systems. In deed it is often argued that concrete is in fact the most utilised man-made material. According to (World Businness Council for sustainable Development, 2013), three tonnes of concrete for each man and woman are used for every man, woman and child globally every year, thus making twice as much as total other building materials such as plastic, steel use. The whole reason of its popularity is its strength, durability, an abundance and affordability thus making it the material of choice. Such a global form of construction has a significant impact on sustainability. According to the World Commission on environment and development; sustainability refers “Meeting the demands of the present without compromising the capability of the future generations to meet their needs and requirements”. It is in the concern for the wellbeing of our planet with human development and continued growth. On sustainability, the production of concrete more so it’s key ingredient; cement possess a number of sustainability challenges that needs to be managed: production of cement emits carbon dioxide gas and other emissions, the quarrying of sand and ballast leads to other negative impacts such noise, dust and environment biodegradation. In area where water is scarce the use of water in mixing concrete needs to evaluated. The production of Portland cement leads to significant release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Therefore, the development of concrete structures proves to have environmental issues that sustainable development. According a study carried out by (Naik & Kraus, 1999)the percentage of CO2 emitted by industrialised countries is as shown in the table below. Country/ Union Percentage CO2 USA 20 EU 20 Russia 17 Japan 8 China >15 India >10 s (Naik & Moriconi , 2006) The environmentally concerns and issues linked to with the CO2 emissions from the production of cement, energy demand, resource conservation consideration, and economic effects as a result of high cost of cement manufacturing plants and demand that that accompanying cement materials in general and specifically fly ash have been taunted to replace in concrete. If we run out of limestone, the main raw material of cement (the key ingredient of concrete) we cannot produce Portland cement and, thus concrete, in the human development, this may cause loss of business and jobs as well. Most geographical regions are running out of limestone use in cement production. Most of urban areas are also slowly loosing sources of ballast. Concrete is not only strong but is durable, building material with reduced environmental impact. It is the imperative for building infrastructure and construction and engineering to put future generations in on the path towards a sustainable future. According to the Cement Association of Canada, concrete infrastructure has minimal energy use and maintenance; minimize heavily loaded vehicles in highways, insulating concrete homes. Steel Building material Using steel as a construction material brings in strength, efficiency, durability and recyclability. These superior properties introduce to generate majority of the secondary environmental credits. For instance the efficiency of use, low weight, and high recyclability of steel structures makes steel linked to reduce energy us of energy, less waste, less use resources, less transports and minimal emissions. High functional durability means less re- construction and hence a general sustainability improvement. The table below shows sustainability attributes related to the utilization of steel in construction and infrastructure building. These superior attributes are true for virtually all types of structures whether buildings, roads, industrial and public buildings (The Steel Construction Construction Secor Sustainability Commitee, 2003). Some of these properties are not applicable to all structures owing to their functional differences. Attributes Comments on Construction using Steel Usability Production and manufacture of steel is done in efficient workshops and factories with minimal utilization of resources. This enables the construction of high- rise, long span and flexible buildings Weight Steel structures are basically light in weight, and therefore efficient on materials, transport, and energy and in emissions. The minimal weight also helps in the vertical extension and optimal location. Speed Steels structures are very easy to install on site thereby minimising the local disruption Performance Steel is a high performer building material with high dimensional accuracy, and can be easily produced using the latest computerised manufacturing techniques. This makes it highly sustainable due to reduced cost of manufacture Waste generation Steel as a building and construction material is very efficient, it generates minimal waste per volume, and most of the steel waste i.e. scrap can be easily recycled Durability Steel building and construction materials have a very long design life and this does not compromise on performance and quality Safety and Health Steel structures are constructed using dry construction processes, with low emitting materials, safe and controlled processes with a high quality architecture Logistics Steel and steel structures is delivered to site using the principle of “Just- In- Time” for erection and installation, and can be locally produced Timber as a Sustainable building Material Basically is processed wood; a product of trees. Timber is easy to work as a building and construction material. In the production field, timber forms one of the products that the designers can choose from. Majority of these processes are promoted and chosen as environmentally viable options, such as solid timber products. Other wood products are as a result of reconstituted wood products such fibre boards, paper and chip boards. Recycling and disposal of timber The reusability of timber depends on the particular species and the manner in which the timber was maintained. The feasibility of reuse also depends on the resources necessary for remanufacturing and reassembly (Fergusion , Vinden , & Bren , 1996). In contrast to other building materials such steel, aluminium, and glass, timber can be reused or recycled without complete breakdown and remanufacture. However, apart from paper, timber products are rarely made from recycled materials or salvage timber, furniture etc. the only way it can be recycled is by having timber from factories re-milled and used in domestic and commercial construction applications. The carbon cycle and Timber production Majority of energy utilised in the production of building materials originates from fossil fuels, and embodied energy is a significant indicator of the material consequence on the carbon cycle (Buchanan & Honey, 2004). As timber and other forest products from wood are majorly made from atmospheric carbon, they fail to have the same relationship between the embodied energy and the carbon cycle as other main building materials. Conclusion The only true technique of assessing the building materials sustainability and environmental impact is via a life – cycle assessment. This methodological technique is not only technical but involves a detailed and rigorous scientific platform. This involves extraction of raw materials, preparation, manufacture, construction, utilization/ operation and re-use and recycling phases. From the information above it is evident that each, material has its unique level of sustainability however, concrete seems to have a universal use owing is versatility. It’s also concrete buildings and structures perform very well across all environmental indicators such durability, CO2 emissions and energy use. At the micro- economic levels concrete provides the least cost of manufacture and construction in most cases, this implies that for a particular investment, concrete provides more, schools, hospitals, hoses roads, and bridges than any other material considered. References Buchanan, A., & Honey, B. (2004). Energy and Carbon dioxide implications of Building construction . Energy and Building, 205- 217. Dhir, R. K., Henderson, N. A., & Limbachiya, M. C. (1998). Use of recycled concrete aggregate. . London, UK: Thomas Telford Publishing. . Fergusion , I., Vinden , P., & Bren , L. (1996). Environmental Properties of Timber. FWPRDC, 14, 18-56. Moriconi,, G., & Corinaldesi, V. (2003). Environmentally-friendly mortars: a way to improve bond between mortar and brick. Materials and Structures, 13, 49-59. Naik, T. R., & Kraus, R. N. (1999). The role of flowable slurry in sustainable developments in civil engineering. Materials and construction - exploring the connection;Proc. ASCE conf.,. Naik, T. R., & Moriconi , G. (2006). Environmental-friendly durable concrete made with recycled materials for sustainable concrete construction. UWM Center for By-Products Utilization, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA. The Steel Construction Construction Secor Sustainability Commitee, U. (2003). Sustainable Steel Construction, Building a Better Future. World Businness Council for sustainable Development. (2013, November). Cement Sustainability initiative. Retrieved January 14, 2014, from http://www.wbcsdcement.org/index.php/key-issues/sustainability-with-concrete Read More