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Concrete is one of the more environmentally-friendly building materials and is ideal for LEED Certified building projects. Architects and builders are becoming more conscious of the cost-effectiveness and environmental and health benefits of green building. Many state and local municipalities are now requiring new government and school construction to be LEED certified and the movement in private construction is gaining in popularity as well.
Using concrete in your building project makes good environmental sense. The components of concrete are in abundant supply and their extraction takes less toll on the environment than other building materials. Quarries, the primary source of concrete aggregates, can be reclaimed for recreational, residential or commercial uses or can be restored to their natural state. Concrete is also “green” in that it is manufactured locally and produces no toxic runoff (unlike asphalt).
Chandler Concrete is experienced in working within LEED requirements and creating specially designed mixes suitable for green projects.
Building “Green”
Potential LEED points can be gained by using ready-mixed concrete in the following areas:
- Stormwater management
- Landscape paving
- Minimizing energy use
- Optimizing energy performance
- Managing construction waste
- Recycled content
- Use of regional materials
- Use of certified wood
- Innovation in design
- Site-wide VOC reduction
- Reduction in the use of portland cement
LEED Green Building Rating System
LEED Green Building promotes environmentally conscious buildings that improve outdoor and indoor building quality and reduces waste during the building process. Established in 1998, the LEED Green Building Rating System for New Construction (LEED-NC) is a voluntary national standard and was developed by members of the United States Green Building Committee (USGBC)
Recycling
Concrete is a unique building material. It can easily incorporate recycled materials into the mix, most commonly fly ash (an industrial waste by-product of coal manufacturing), which would normally go into landfills. Using recycled materials usually provides a cost-savings for the customer. Concrete can also be recycled – as a high quality aggregate in another concrete mix!
Energy Efficiency
Concrete is energy efficient in its manufacture. The only concrete ingredient that requires intensive energy demand is the manufacture of cement. Concrete is energy efficient in its transportation, materials for mixes are readily available and locally obtainable and mixes are not transported great distances due to limited mixing time. Concrete offers significant energy savings when used in homes and commercial buildings; its thermal mass contributes to high R-factors and moderates temperature fluctuations by storing and releasing energy needed for heating and cooling. Highways paved with concrete reduce heavy truck fuel consumption. Concrete’s reflectivity can lower lighting costs in parking lots by as much as 30% over other pavements. Concrete’s light-colored surface reduces heat absorption, benefiting our lakes and streams with cooler storm water run-off.
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Chandler Concrete has been involved from the beginning with this “green” building project, supplying concrete for the footings and structure.
The Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, NC being built by Quaintance Weaver Restaurants and Hotels, seeks to be the first certified green building in the area. Named after an old textile mill that produced denim, the hotel will resemble a 1939 cut and sew textile plant with high windows.
When officials of the Catawba College Center for the Environment began planning a new facility to house the program, they decided to practice what they taught. This project reflected the program's dedication to fostering and perserving the earth. Chandler Concrete was proud to be a part of the 21,000 square foot facility.
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