Resource
Efficiency
The Concrete Joint Sustainability
Initiative is a multi-association
effort of the
Concrete Industry
supply chain to take unified and
integrated action for
Sustainable Development
Concrete JSI members have
signed a joint agreement
committing to act on 9
Declarations.
Declaration #4 addresses 8 Social
Values of Concrete Structures
http://www.sustainableconcrete.org
Declaration #4:
“Our integrated thinking will focus on the following
Social Values provided by Concrete Structures”:
1. Resource efficiency
5. By-product reduction
2. Safety/protection
6. Aesthetics
3. Financial responsibility
7. Societal connectivity
4. Operational continuity
8. Longevity/durability
Social Value: Resource Efficiency
What it means
Concrete
Structures over
their lifecycle
are efficient
users of energy,
water, land and
other resources
Resource Efficiency
Materials Resources
Durability
Recycled Content
Energy Resources
Locally acquired
Structures and
pavement
Water resources
Pervious pavements
Resource Efficiency
 Cost savings by
not finishing
floors, walls, etc.
 Structure, air
barrier and finish
in one integrated
system
 Easily repairable
Photo courtesy of L. M Schofield
Materials Acquisition Impacts
Resource Impact Index
Concrete
Aggregate
Quarrying
Limestone
Quarrying
1.00
1.50
Steel
Iron Ore Mining
2.25
Wood
Boreal Timber
Harvesting
Coastal Timber
Harvesting
2.50
3.25
Source: Natural Resources Canada
Integrated Design = Success!
Design Flexibility / Optimization
4,000 psi vs 9,000 psi
concrete?
 Additional 3,120 rentable
square feet
 16% less cement
 1,730 yards less concrete
 3,400 tons less weight
Reduce CO2 by
220,000 lbs
Multi-tasking Material
Ryerson
Conservation
Center, Lake
County, IL
60,000 gallon
concrete cistern
provides both
Fire Protection &
Thermal Storage
Energy Resources
Did you know?
Average distance
between
manufacturing and
project site is only
14.2
miles?
Energy Resource Efficiency
Concrete roads:
 Minimize urban
heat island
effects
 Have lower
rolling resistance
 Require less fuel
during
construction
Resource Efficiency
Concrete bridges
and other
infrastructure
 Durability
 Accelerated
construction
schedule
 Reduced
maintenance
Land and Water Resources
Land and Water Resources
Resource Efficiency
Reduction of floor
and wall finishes
 Improved thermal
comfort
 Reduced sound
transmission
 No food source for
mold growth
Cradle to Cradle
125+ million tons/year
Looking Forward
 Integral
waterproofing
 Photo-catalytic
concrete
 Nanocements
 Seawater-based
cement and
aggregates
Looking Forward
 New supplemental
cementitious
materials, such as
rice husk ash
 Light-transmitting
concrete
 Carbonation
research
Summary
 Fundamental to sustainability
for future generations
 Durability and efficiency
affects both maintenance and
replacement
 Extends beyond construction
materials to include water,
land use, and energy
Thank You
American Coal Ash Association
American Concrete Institute
American Concrete Pipe
Association
American Shotcrete Association
American Society of Concrete
Contractors
Architectural Precast Association
American Segmental Bridge
Institute
Cast Stone Institute
Concrete Reinforcing Steel
Institute
Concrete Sawing & Drilling
Association
Concrete Foundations Association
Expanded Shale, Clay and Slate
Institute
Interlocking Concrete Pavement
Institute
International Concrete Repair Institute
National Concrete Masonry Association
National Precast Concrete Association
National Ready Mixed Concrete
Association
Portland Cement Association
Post-Tensioning Institute
Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute
RMC Research and Education
Foundation
Silica Fume Association
Slag Cement Association
Tile Roofing Institute
Tilt-Up Concrete Association
Wire Reinforcement Institute