19 Eco-Friendly Concrete Alternatives
From the time that we humans started building structures for shelter or other purposes, we have used different construction materials. Over the years, people have found and created different compositions that we can utilize in building homes, schools, etc. Tools and equipment for plumbing, painting, concrete building, etc. have been invented. People have also formulated different materials and chemicals for better quality paint and stronger concrete. Humans have also noticed how our way of living has affected and caused drastic changes in our environment. The temperature and climates have been changing. Humans and all living things are affected by these changes. To help save our environment, people from different industries are also looking for ways. When it comes to construction, various builder trends are emerging. There are now steps that we can take to make structures sustainable or to reuse or recycle the materials in the field. When it comes specifically to the concrete that we use to build schools, offices, and homes, there are now also various eco-friendly materials that are available and can be employed.
Managing your concrete construction business
When working in construction, there are plenty of tasks to accomplish. There is also plenty of information and documents that should be recorded. There is a need to make crew schedules for different projects. Construction crew management need monitoring, transactions and expenses and documentation, and there are even budgets that should be followed. When the client asks for especial additions, changes, or customization such as the use of eco-friendly materials that are not yet commonly used in construction, the job can become even more complicated. As the people in charge, project managers have to make sure that they are taken care of correctly. To do all of these things manually will be difficult. But if the people in charge will resort to using construction management software, the job can be accomplished more efficiently. This software can help in time tracking, multiple tasks scheduling, task management, crew management, team communication, and it even enables sending information in the form of photos, documents, and videos. Finding the right tools, equipment, material, and software has high impact on both the process and output of the work.
Post-Consumer Glass
Post-consumer glass strengthens concrete durability. Using this product in concrete production also lessen consumer landfill waste.
Moreover, glass is a flexible material, and it can be recycled plenty of times without incurring any changes in its chemical properties, which makes it a good alternative for concrete.
Eco-Friendly Concrete Alternatives
Concrete Debris
By using concrete debris in making cement, resource consumption is lessened, which also reduces the expenses and waste from demolition sites. Additionally, there will be more landfill space. Using concrete debris is not only cost-effective. It is also environmentally friendly because it reduces emissions.
Ashcrete
Ashcrete is what becomes of the recycled fly ash produce from the combustion of coals that ended up in landfills. When fly ash is employed, 97 percent of the components that are traditionally in concrete can be replaced with it. Utilizing fly ash when making cement helps lessen the emission of carbon dioxide and help the environment. Using fly ash in making concrete does not only help save the environment. It also increases the strength of concrete, and it also lessens shrinkage and bleeding compared to the traditional concrete.
Geopolymer Concrete
Geopolymer concrete is an alternative that does not need the inclusion of limestone. To create this concrete, environmentally friendly materials such as clay or slag, and fly ash can be utilized.
Graphene-Infused Concrete
By adding graphene in concrete, the materials needed can be decreased in half, and CO2 emissions can even be minimized. Graphene, which is 200 times stronger than steel, produces a flexible and lightweight substitute.
Fiber Cement
Another concrete alternative that is eco-friendly is fiber cement. Fiber cement utilizes air, water, and minerals, and uses fire in heating the mixture in filtration. Fiber cement is durable, and it lessens the demand for replacement materials and parts over the decades. Using fiber cement, which is a sustainable option, builders can create aesthetic designs without materials that generate harmful emissions of gases.
Bamboo
Bamboo is a lightweight material, has a fast-growing renewable nature, and has tensile strength. Additionally, this material can be locally sourced in different parts of the world. Bamboo can be employed in framing buildings. It can replace imported and expensive materials, and it provides a substitute to rebar and concrete construction, most especially in places that are low-income, difficult to reach, and in a post-disaster building situation.
Root Veggies
Root veggies such as beets or carrots make use of in making concrete by utilizing the nanoplatelets from their fibers and mixing them with cement. These nanoplatelets make the mixture stronger and reduce the use of cement. Furthermore, the root veggies that will be employed can come from food waste, making it cheaper than graphene.
Ferrock
Ferrock is formed using recycled materials, which include steel dust from steel industries. Using these, a material that is concrete-like but is sturdier can be created. During its hardening and drying phase, it even traps and absorbs carbon dioxide, which makes it carbon neutral.
Mycelium
Mycelium is a building material that is consists of the root structure of fungi and mushrooms. This natural building material can grow in the composite of materials such as ground-up straw. This material is air-dried to create durable and lightweight bricks.
Straw Bales
Straw bales are both affordable and sustainable. Straw bales can be used to construct a home’s walls inside a frame, and it replaces building materials such as stone, plaster, fiberglass, wood, gypsum, and concrete. When straw bales are correctly sealed, they naturally provide extremely high insulation levels for both cold and hot climates.
Recycled Plastic
Using plastic to make concrete provides a new purpose for the plastic waste that causes landfill clogging, and it also decreases greenhouse gas emissions. By doing this, the production of carbon dioxide can be reduced in half. Plastic is a non-biodegradable material that is currently causing problems and can cause even more severe problems in the future. That is why looking for ways to reduce its production of plastic and maximize the use of it is extremely important.
Rammed Earth
Using rammed earth in building structures is not new. For thousands of years, it has been used by human civilizations. The rammed earth in modern times however, can now be constructed safer using rebar or bamboo. Mechanical tampers can now also be used to decrease the amount of labor necessary to build sturdy walls. Also, rammed earth also gives the same feel as the commonly used concrete, which makes it a great replacement.
HempCrete
HempCrete is a concrete-like material that is produced from the inner fibers of the hemp plant. The woody inner hemp fibers are combined with lime to construct shapes similar to concrete and light and sturdy. The blocks of hempcrete produced are significantly lightweight, which highly reduces the energy used in transporting the blocks.
Grasscrete
Grasscrete pertains to the practice of placing concrete flooring, driveways, sidewalks, and walkways in a way that there are open spaces left for grass and other plants to grow. Doing this process does not only reduces the use of concrete, but it also helps in drainage and stormwater absorption.
Timbercrete
Timbercrete is a material that is consists of sawdust and concrete. These materials mixed can be turned into bricks, pavers, and blocks and used in building. Timbercrete is lighter than concrete, which reduces the emission from transportation. Moreover, using sawdust also means reusing waste.
Blast Furnace Slag
Blast furnace slag is a glassy granular material that is generated by putting molten iron slag from the blast furnace into steam or water. In the production process of this material, the amount of heat for hydration is less. Blast furnace slag can substitute 70 % to 80 % of the cement, and it even enhances concrete durability.
Micro Silica/Silica Fumes
Micro silica is said to enhance concrete durability by turning it into something with more compressive strength and by making it less permeable. The concrete made from this material is utilized specifically for formations or structures exposed to harsh substances. This material can be a substitute for 7%-12% of the cement used in making concrete.
Fibrous Concrete or Papercrete
Papercrete is a material that does not entirely replace cement. But even just small quantities of this product are sufficient to oppose some of the negative impacts of concrete production. This material is produced by utilizing paper waste.
Key Takeaways
Currently, there are plenty of materials and techniques that can be used as a substitute for concrete. Choosing to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste will not only benefit the environment. It will benefit all of us and future generations. Experts are continually innovating and looking for ways to create more eco-friendly materials that can be employed in different industries, such as construction. We must make ourselves aware of these developments and do what we can, such as utilizing these ways and materials to help.
