You might think “sustainable concrete” is an oxymoron, and traditionally, you’d be right. But an Arizona partnership between a manufacturer and a couple climate tech start-ups is hoping to make concrete itself more sustainable.
Concrete is one of the more carbon-intense building products, and as a staple of modern construction, is a key contributor to any project’s carbon footprint. The partnership uses a two-pronged approach: First, the partnership will use a new technology to replace cement with blocks made from industrial waste. Then, they’ll use an onsite-process of curing the blocks with carbon dioxide, effectively removing large amounts of carbon from the ambient air, according to Grist.
The manufacturer member of this three-way partnership says in a press release that the new process for manufacturing concrete blocks is no more expensive than traditional concrete blocks, making it a win-win from a cost and climate perspective.
Greg Zimmerman is senior contributing editor for FacilitiesNet.com and Building Operating Management magazine.
