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Sustainability of Concrete


Sustainability is generally defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The three pillars of sustainability are environment, economy, and society. The carbon footprint of concrete can be lowered by using supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as fly ash, slag cement, and silica fume; by using higher-strength concrete; and through the use of alternative fuels during the cement manufacturing process. A sustainable structure is also a durable and resilient structure—long lasting and able to resist natural forces with little damage, and when damaged, easily restored for use. Use of concrete applications can also provide “green” benefits—for example, pervious concrete results in pavements, sidewalks, and parking areas that drain directly to the subsurface, eliminating the need for drainage structures, underground piping, retention basins (saving materials and lower carbon footprint), and direct discharge into rivers and lakes (an environmental benefit).

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