Concrete is the most popular building material in the world, but it’s also a big contributor to climate change. With that in mind, innovators are working to reduce its carbon footprint. They are developing new formulas, 3D-printed concrete and self-healing bio-concrete among other solutions. The goal is to create construction materials with better whole-life performance, using less primary resources, non-renewable energy and causing fewer disturbances to natural environments.
The engineers and technicians at Concreting Solutions Brisbane Concreting Solutions QLD are experts in inspecting concrete, masonry, steel reinforcement bars, rebar cages, structural components and building systems. With a variety of accreditations including ACI, NICET and ICC, our professionals have the knowledge depth to meet the specific inspection requirements of any project. With an in-house laboratory, our team can deliver quick and accurate results allowing your project to stay on schedule.
In an era when the global population is expanding exponentially, we need buildings and infrastructure that can meet our needs and minimize the impact on the environment. Concreting Solutions is dedicated to helping our clients create a better, more sustainable future through its innovative construction inspection and testing services.
As a construction material, concrete is highly durable and long-lasting. But when it comes to sustainability, it may have a reputation for being a “problem child” because of its high embodied carbon and energy use.
One way to make concrete more sustainable is through the use of admixtures, which are chemicals added to the mix to achieve special purposes. These include retarding hydration (slowing down the reaction that forms concrete from water and cement), increasing workability with low water content, changing the set time or improving resistance to freeze-thaw damage.
Other solutions to making concrete more sustainable include finding lower-emission paths to concrete production and finding ways to use concrete more efficiently. For example, self-healing bio-concrete uses bacteria that can refill cracks with concrete, restoring the strength of the structure. This means that less concrete would need to be removed and replaced, which lowers the embodied carbon of the project and saves on labor costs.
Other innovations are focusing on reducing the need for concrete altogether, including new designs and materials like precast panels and reusable formwork that can be reused over and over again. Also, there is interest in developing a new concrete that uses wood fibers to replace some of the cement in the mix. This would help improve the durability of concrete and could be a significant step toward the carbon neutrality of the building industry.