Concrete is the most widely used and versatile construction material in use today. Being a key ingredient, cement therefore plays a key role in building a sustainable society. Cement is the binding agent that, together with aggregates, sand and water is used to produce concrete. The main reason for the widespread use of concrete is its versatility – it can be poured, moulded and sprayed into virtually unlimited forms. With concrete, a natural combination of mechanical resistance, heat retention and sound proofing is attained. Concrete is therefore used in applications ranging from residential and office construction to major infrastructure projects, including tunnels, bridges and roads. Concrete is also used in products such as sewage pipes, street-stones and roof-tiles.
From a lifecycle perspective, concrete offers unparalleled longevity and flexibility, as well as a number of sustainability benefits compared with other materials. At the same time, the initial production phase of cement poses specific environmental challenges that we are working hard to address.
Our contribution – sustainable construction
The construction sector plays a crucial role in establishing a sustainable society. In working towards this goal, society must use energy and materials as efficiently as possible and seek to minimise the environmental impact of buildings over their entire lifecycle. In a building, the production of construction materials is responsible only for a small part of total environmental performance. The greatest impact comes from the energy that is required for heating or cooling during the building’s lifetime. By using different construction materials wisely one can optimise functionality, cost efficiency and overall environmental impact.
- Mechanical resistance and stability:
The mechanical strength of concrete makes it the ideal core for large and tall buildings. Use of concrete products also keeps the need for maintenance to a minimum. - Energy economy and heat retention:
About 90 percent of the environmental impact of a building derives from the use of heating, cooling and lighting. Concrete has very good thermal mass capabilities which improve heat stability. Apart from providing a more stable and comfortable indoor climate it lowers the need for heating and cooling, reducing energy consumption by between 10 to 20 percent. The resulting decrease in greenhouse gas emissions over the lifetime of a building represents a significant advantage.
The illustration below show temperature curves for light-weight and heavy-weight construction, compared to outside temperature. Notice how the dotted line (heavy weight) levels out. That is heat retention.
- Safety in case of fire:
In a fire, concrete does not burn and can be designed to act as a barrier to prevent fire from spreading. - Protection against noise:
The density and structure of concrete provide good soundinsulating
properties.