Concrete is by far the most common building material— accounting for twice the volume of all other such materials combined. With such a huge global economic impact, the industry has a correspondingly considerable responsibility to use it sustainably. Written by experts who pioneered research into environmental issues and concrete, Concrete and Sustainability examines the sustainability issues of the world’s main construction material and proposes attainable solutions. It provides a complete overview of the topic and tackles the complexity of the challenges from different angles. This book offers new data regarding the social and economic importance of concrete and proposes a discussion centered on a holistic approach in terms of resource availability, technical viability, economic feasibility, and environmental compatibility. The authors attribute a growing worldwide concern and understanding of sustainability issues, and an increased focus on climate change as the catalyst in this process. Instead of offering detailed technical advice or recommendations on sustainable issues, they provide examples showcasing sustainability efforts taking place in the concrete environment worldwide. The book includes examples and ideas for solutions from a large number of countries from across the globe. It presents a holistic and more complete overview of the emission and absorption topic, takes a look at the challenges from a combined old and new world viewing platform and offers an exploration of issues from a social and economic perspective. Concrete and Sustainability details the various rules and regulations that the industry is facing, discusses the various environmental challenges, and explores its impact. As emission, absorptions, and recycling have been the most central elements of discussion in the cement and concrete environment so far, these topics each receive their own chapters. This book also discusses other issues of concern within the various platforms in the industry, as well as future developments, and provides a comprehensive reference list.

Production of Portland cement is responsible for about seven percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. The pressure to make the production of concrete more sustainable, or "greener", is considerable and increasing. This requires a wholesale shift in processes, materials and methods in the concrete industry. Pure Portland cement will nee

Cement-based concrete has excellent properties as a construction material, and the raw materials of cement—rocks, and limestone and clay—are bountiful. Yet its production generates high quantities of CO2, making it a potentially unsustainable material. However, there are no alternatives to concrete and steel as basic methods for development of socioeconomic infrastructure at this time. Highlighting sustainability issues in the construction industry, The Sustainable Use of Concrete presents guidelines on how to move toward sustainable concrete construction. The book begins by clarifying the historic background and meaning of sustainability, after which it outlines areas that need to be considered in connection with sustainability in the concrete and construction field. It examines environmental, social and cultural, and economic aspects, then considers an evaluation system of sustainability. The authors include various tools and ISO standards, and then explore technologies for sustainability, with case studies and examples that promote understanding of current technologies. Although the construction sector, in the broadest sense, has come to recognize that infrastructure development over the past two centuries has been unsustainable, it has been slow to adjust. Comprehensive information and relevant practical guidance are very scarce. This book lays out a roadmap for creating a human-friendly and safe environment with low environmental burden.

Cement is the basis of the building and construction industry and of fundamental importance for many civil engineering applications. As such, the cement industry is one of the key industries worldwide necessary for the current and future sustainable development of society. Despite its undisputed importance, the cement industry is one of those industrial branches predominately responsible for high energy consumption and excessive generation of large amounts of carbon dioxide and other contaminants that significantly endanger human health and the environment and contributes to global warming.In this context, nanomaterials, polymeric materials, and natural additives are being used for cement enhancement in various applications. This book examines these novel materials and their optimization, characterization, and sustainable application in the building industry and for stabilizing hazardous waste.

With the current focus on sustainability, it is necessary to evaluate cement’s environmental impact properly, especially when developing new ‘green’ concrete types. Therefore, this chapter investigates the available literature on every process concerned during the production of cement. Inventory data on energy use, CO2, PM10, SOx and NOx emissions are collected. Alternatives and improvement are briefly described regarding energy performance and mineralogy changes that it induces for clinker.

Handbook of Low Carbon Concrete brings together the latest breakthroughs in the design, production, and application of low carbon concrete. In this handbook, the editors and contributors have paid extra attention to the emissions generated by coarse aggregates, emissions due to fine aggregates, and emissions due to cement, fly ash, GGBFS, and admixtures. In addition, the book provides expert coverage on emissions due to concrete batching, transport and placement, and emissions generated by typical commercially produced concretes. Includes the tools and methods for reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases Explores technologies, such as carbon capture, storage, and substitute cements Provides essential data that helps determine the unique factors involved in designing large, new green cement plants