Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 1.2 Sustainability issues in concrete production (Eco-Serve)
Environmental impact category
Societal issues
Economical issues
Some solutions
1
Land-use and exploitation of natural resources
(excavations, quarrying, ground water and
lime stone), mainly connected with the
production of concrete constituents
Recreation versus industry.
Transportation cost.
Use of local
materials versus
imported
materials.
Innovation in production and processing of raw
materials
Planning of land-use.
Utilisation of scarce
resources.
2
Waste products from concrete production
(washing/mixing water, cement slurry, form
oil, rejected concrete and excess production)
Land-filling with the risk of
leaching of heavy metals
and hydrocarbons.
Landfill taxes.
Reusing waste materials generated within
concrete production as well as from other
industries
Recycling into
production.
Demand from other
industries.
Sorting and reusing.
3
Emissions and energy consumption
Commitment to reduce
greenhouse effect and to
behave in an energy
conscious manner.
Energy taxes.
Reducing clinker content by blending other
materials, optimising concrete mix design
(CO
2
,SO
2
, embodied energy throughout
production, transport and construction)
Up-to-date production
equipment and
methods.
4
Working environment
Health problems.
Expenses for
hospitalization and
sick leave.
By improving automation in concrete
production, use of innovative concrete
product such as fibre reinforced concrete and
self-compacting concrete.
(noise, vibrations, dust, accidents etc.)
Automated production
equipment and
methods.
