Building Green with Reinforced Concrete

Home , Reinforced concrete

Design Flexibility Aesthetic Variety Reinforced concrete offers flexibility Reinforced concrete can replicate the to design dramatic architectural look of many types of stone that would shapes with long-span capability. This be costly to quarry and transport. Thin can deliver open interior layouts, bricks can be embedded in concrete walls creating flexibility in design spaces to resemble masonry, significantly reduc- and providing the ability to install ing material use and cost. Logos, names, equipment quickly. As usage changes, and other decorations can be cast into the steel reinforced concrete elements concrete, eliminating material costs and Building Greens can be modified to allow buildings maintenance for these added elements. to expand, cutting costs and reusing material. Significant with Reinforced Concrete Social Benefits Reduced Floor Heights Reinforced concrete provides high fire virtually 100% recyclable product, provides cradle-to-cradle construction. Reinforced concrete framing systems resistance, lower noise transmission, offer substantially lower floor-to-floor and vibration dampening—creating heights, creating energy-efficient safe, secure, comfortable designs. designs that may be able to add Combined with its ability to build revenue-generating floors to the build- taller and closer to city centers, ing while meeting zoning restrictions improved indoor air quality, wind on height. resistance, indoor comfort and other amenities, reinforced concrete can help boost productivity, worker satisfaction and offer a higher quality “greener” way of life.

Steel reinforced concrete For more information on these benefits and how reinforced helps architects and concrete can help achieve sustainable design goals, contact: engineers meet owners’ goals for achieving sustainable design

“Human design can learn from nature to be effective, safe, enriching, and delightful. Industry must create products for cradle-to-cradle cycles, whose materials are perpetually circulated in closed loops. Closed loops maximize 933 North Plum Grove Road material value without damaging ecosystems.” Schaumburg IL 60173 — McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry LLC 847.517.1200 www.crsi.org Regional offices nationwide. STEEL Reinforced Concrete: Each year, producing The Sustainable Solution reinforcing bars through Concrete’s Energy Use steel recycling saves the As with any material, manufacturing and transporting steel reinforced concrete to the site involves costs. But reinforced concrete is resource efficient, energy equivalent to requiring little manufacturing for its creation, according to the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. electrically powering Building owners and users have discovered the array of benefits achieved with sustainable construction. Cement is the key energy-intensive material in concrete. Its ingredients about one-fifth of These advantages go beyond environmental Long Service Life comprise calcium (60% by weight), silicon (20%), aluminum (15%), iron Reinforced concrete’s durability ensures (10%), and small amounts of other ingredients, according to the Portland America’s households avoids a massive energy expenditure— gains helpful to the community and mar- that the building will retain its structural Cement Association (PCA). The mixture of primarily limestone, iron, silica one ton of steel reinforcing bars would keting prestige. They include durability and aesthetic capabilities for many years, and alumina is heated to 2700° F to create the basis for cement. However, (18 million) for one year. otherwise require about 2,500 pounds of eliminating the need to supplement or and other features that produce cement makes up only about 10% of concrete’s composition. Likewise, the ore, 1,400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds replace the structure. A carbon footprint steel reinforcement used in steel reinforced concrete makes up only about of limestone. bottom-line savings, cutting is minimized when the need to build a 10% of the total material in the concrete components. This addition adds time and cost during a project’s new structure is eliminated. little costs or weight, yet increases strength dramatically. Reinforcing bar is typically made in construction and service life. electric arc furnaces, which produce Concrete manufacturers and steel mills also have worked to minimize the energy about 45% of the steel products made in No material aids these Safety Reinforced concrete buildings can withstand intensiveness of concrete manufacturing and steel production, respectively. America. Nearly 100% of the feedstock needs more than steel natural disasters, including hurricanes, Many of its attributes have been recognized by green-building programs, espe- used for producing reinforcing bars is reinforced concrete. tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods. cially the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program operated provided by recycled ferrous scrap. This resistance minimizes the need for by the U.S. Green Building Council. As a result, reinforced concrete provides a replacement or renovation in the wake of variety of ways for owners and architects to increase their building’s sustainable Recyclable such cataclysms. design. Steel reinforcement is infinitely recyclable, meaning it typically is recycled by Fire Resistance demolition contractors, who sell the bars Inherent fire resistance is a valued benefit as ferrous scrap. The steel is reclaimed by crushing the concrete and retrieving the bars of reinforced concrete construction. The Typical Composition of with hammers, breakers, and grappling hooks simplest concrete structural frame can easily Steel Reinforced Hydraulic-Cement Concrete mounted onto heavy equipment. The steel achieve fire code compliance. Concrete acts (by volume) as a natural barrier to fire with no need for is then cut into pieces, using torches and additional fireproofing applications. cutting tools. The steel is sold to plants and Sand 25-29% reused as new quality steel products. More than 65% of all reinforcing bars are recycled, Energy Efficiency Gravel 30-50% Reinforced concrete’s inherent thermal according to The Steel Recycling Institute. mass absorbs heat during the day and Water 16% releases it at night, reducing HVAC costs Likewise, the concrete can be and enhancing energy efficiency. This is crushed and reused as aggregates in especially important in buildings containing new concrete structures, in roadbeds, heat-generating equipment. and for breakwaters as larger pieces. The Cement combination of recycling activities for Air Reinforcing 8-16% Steel reinforcing steel and concrete make it a Improved Indoor Air Quality 4-8% totally cradle-to-cradle building material Concrete contains no volatile organic 10% Minimized Minimized Recycled Materials The reinforcing steel used in concrete that is recognized by sustainable-design compounds (VOCs), improving indoor air Harvesting Impact Transportation Cost Source: Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute is virtually 100% recycled from other organizations worldwide. quality. Because it is inorganic, it also Concrete is made primarily from naturally Concrete manufacturers, steel mills and April 2008 metal products. Likewise, cement often does not promote mold growth. occurring and readily available materials: reinforcing bar fabricators are located water, sand, and gravel. Suppliers of concrete throughout the country, and they is replaced by supplemental cementitious Reduced Waste products also are replacing significant typically use locally available materials. materials that otherwise would enter Concrete components typically are cast Low Maintenance Thus, cost to transport ingredients or the waste stream. This contribution by as specified, with little excess produced. Reinforced concrete’s durability also amounts of cement in their mixtures with finished products to the site are minimized. reinforced concrete in providing recycled What waste accrues through cutouts, requires little patching or cleaning, industrial by-products such as fly ash, silica Virtually all of reinforced concrete materials is recognized by LEED. etc., can be recycled. Many steel eliminating the need for harsh fume, and blast-furnace slag. Use of these components can be made within 500 miles and concrete plants have instituted chemical cleaners or other materials, by-products in concrete removes them from of the construction site, a key element More than 7 million tons of scrap steel is water-recycling programs and other lowering overall maintenance cost. landfills and reduces cement use, while in in achieving LEED points. many cases producing an even more durable recycled into reinforcing bars every year, environmental processes to further concrete. virtually the entire feedstock. This recycling reduce the manufacturing impact. STEEL Reinforced Concrete: Each year, producing The Sustainable Solution reinforcing bars through Concrete’s Energy Use steel recycling saves the As with any material, manufacturing and transporting steel reinforced concrete to the site involves costs. But reinforced concrete is resource efficient, energy equivalent to requiring little manufacturing for its creation, according to the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. electrically powering Building owners and users have discovered the array of benefits achieved with sustainable construction. Cement is the key energy-intensive material in concrete. Its ingredients about one-fifth of These advantages go beyond environmental Long Service Life comprise calcium (60% by weight), silicon (20%), aluminum (15%), iron Reinforced concrete’s durability ensures (10%), and small amounts of other ingredients, according to the Portland America’s households avoids a massive energy expenditure— gains helpful to the community and mar- that the building will retain its structural Cement Association (PCA). The mixture of primarily limestone, iron, silica one ton of steel reinforcing bars would keting prestige. They include durability and aesthetic capabilities for many years, and alumina is heated to 2700° F to create the basis for cement. However, (18 million) for one year. otherwise require about 2,500 pounds of eliminating the need to supplement or and other features that produce cement makes up only about 10% of concrete’s composition. Likewise, the ore, 1,400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds replace the structure. A carbon footprint steel reinforcement used in steel reinforced concrete makes up only about of limestone. bottom-line savings, cutting is minimized when the need to build a 10% of the total material in the concrete components. This addition adds time and cost during a project’s new structure is eliminated. little costs or weight, yet increases strength dramatically. Reinforcing bar is typically made in construction and service life. electric arc furnaces, which produce Concrete manufacturers and steel mills also have worked to minimize the energy about 45% of the steel products made in No material aids these Safety Reinforced concrete buildings can withstand intensiveness of concrete manufacturing and steel production, respectively. America. Nearly 100% of the feedstock needs more than steel natural disasters, including hurricanes, Many of its attributes have been recognized by green-building programs, espe- used for producing reinforcing bars is reinforced concrete. tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods. cially the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program operated provided by recycled ferrous scrap. This resistance minimizes the need for by the U.S. Green Building Council. As a result, reinforced concrete provides a replacement or renovation in the wake of variety of ways for owners and architects to increase their building’s sustainable Recyclable such cataclysms. design. Steel reinforcement is infinitely recyclable, meaning it typically is recycled by Fire Resistance demolition contractors, who sell the bars Inherent fire resistance is a valued benefit as ferrous scrap. The steel is reclaimed by crushing the concrete and retrieving the bars of reinforced concrete construction. The Typical Composition of with hammers, breakers, and grappling hooks simplest concrete structural frame can easily Steel Reinforced Hydraulic-Cement Concrete mounted onto heavy equipment. The steel achieve fire code compliance. Concrete acts (by volume) as a natural barrier to fire with no need for is then cut into pieces, using torches and additional fireproofing applications. cutting tools. The steel is sold to plants and Sand 25-29% reused as new quality steel products. More than 65% of all reinforcing bars are recycled, Energy Efficiency Gravel 30-50% Reinforced concrete’s inherent thermal according to The Steel Recycling Institute. mass absorbs heat during the day and Water 16% releases it at night, reducing HVAC costs Likewise, the concrete can be and enhancing energy efficiency. This is crushed and reused as aggregates in especially important in buildings containing new concrete structures, in roadbeds, heat-generating equipment. and for breakwaters as larger pieces. The Cement combination of recycling activities for Air Reinforcing 8-16% Steel reinforcing steel and concrete make it a Improved Indoor Air Quality 4-8% totally cradle-to-cradle building material Concrete contains no volatile organic 10% Minimized Minimized Recycled Materials The reinforcing steel used in concrete that is recognized by sustainable-design compounds (VOCs), improving indoor air Harvesting Impact Transportation Cost Source: Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute is virtually 100% recycled from other organizations worldwide. quality. Because it is inorganic, it also Concrete is made primarily from naturally Concrete manufacturers, steel mills and April 2008 metal products. Likewise, cement often does not promote mold growth. occurring and readily available materials: reinforcing bar fabricators are located water, sand, and gravel. Suppliers of concrete throughout the country, and they is replaced by supplemental cementitious Reduced Waste products also are replacing significant typically use locally available materials. materials that otherwise would enter Concrete components typically are cast Low Maintenance Thus, cost to transport ingredients or the waste stream. This contribution by as specified, with little excess produced. Reinforced concrete’s durability also amounts of cement in their mixtures with finished products to the site are minimized. reinforced concrete in providing recycled What waste accrues through cutouts, requires little patching or cleaning, industrial by-products such as fly ash, silica Virtually all of reinforced concrete materials is recognized by LEED. etc., can be recycled. Many steel eliminating the need for harsh fume, and blast-furnace slag. Use of these components can be made within 500 miles and concrete plants have instituted chemical cleaners or other materials, by-products in concrete removes them from of the construction site, a key element More than 7 million tons of scrap steel is water-recycling programs and other lowering overall maintenance cost. landfills and reduces cement use, while in in achieving LEED points. many cases producing an even more durable recycled into reinforcing bars every year, environmental processes to further concrete. virtually the entire feedstock. This recycling reduce the manufacturing impact. STEEL Reinforced Concrete: Each year, producing The Sustainable Solution reinforcing bars through Concrete’s Energy Use steel recycling saves the As with any material, manufacturing and transporting steel reinforced concrete to the site involves costs. But reinforced concrete is resource efficient, energy equivalent to requiring little manufacturing for its creation, according to the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. electrically powering Building owners and users have discovered the array of benefits achieved with sustainable construction. Cement is the key energy-intensive material in concrete. Its ingredients about one-fifth of These advantages go beyond environmental Long Service Life comprise calcium (60% by weight), silicon (20%), aluminum (15%), iron Reinforced concrete’s durability ensures (10%), and small amounts of other ingredients, according to the Portland America’s households avoids a massive energy expenditure— gains helpful to the community and mar- that the building will retain its structural Cement Association (PCA). The mixture of primarily limestone, iron, silica one ton of steel reinforcing bars would keting prestige. They include durability and aesthetic capabilities for many years, and alumina is heated to 2700° F to create the basis for cement. However, (18 million) for one year. otherwise require about 2,500 pounds of eliminating the need to supplement or and other features that produce cement makes up only about 10% of concrete’s composition. Likewise, the ore, 1,400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds replace the structure. A carbon footprint steel reinforcement used in steel reinforced concrete makes up only about of limestone. bottom-line savings, cutting is minimized when the need to build a 10% of the total material in the concrete components. This addition adds time and cost during a project’s new structure is eliminated. little costs or weight, yet increases strength dramatically. Reinforcing bar is typically made in construction and service life. electric arc furnaces, which produce Concrete manufacturers and steel mills also have worked to minimize the energy about 45% of the steel products made in No material aids these Safety Reinforced concrete buildings can withstand intensiveness of concrete manufacturing and steel production, respectively. America. Nearly 100% of the feedstock needs more than steel natural disasters, including hurricanes, Many of its attributes have been recognized by green-building programs, espe- used for producing reinforcing bars is reinforced concrete. tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods. cially the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program operated provided by recycled ferrous scrap. This resistance minimizes the need for by the U.S. Green Building Council. As a result, reinforced concrete provides a replacement or renovation in the wake of variety of ways for owners and architects to increase their building’s sustainable Recyclable such cataclysms. design. Steel reinforcement is infinitely recyclable, meaning it typically is recycled by Fire Resistance demolition contractors, who sell the bars Inherent fire resistance is a valued benefit as ferrous scrap. The steel is reclaimed by crushing the concrete and retrieving the bars of reinforced concrete construction. The Typical Composition of with hammers, breakers, and grappling hooks simplest concrete structural frame can easily Steel Reinforced Hydraulic-Cement Concrete mounted onto heavy equipment. The steel achieve fire code compliance. Concrete acts (by volume) as a natural barrier to fire with no need for is then cut into pieces, using torches and additional fireproofing applications. cutting tools. The steel is sold to plants and Sand 25-29% reused as new quality steel products. More than 65% of all reinforcing bars are recycled, Energy Efficiency Gravel 30-50% Reinforced concrete’s inherent thermal according to The Steel Recycling Institute. mass absorbs heat during the day and Water 16% releases it at night, reducing HVAC costs Likewise, the concrete can be and enhancing energy efficiency. This is crushed and reused as aggregates in especially important in buildings containing new concrete structures, in roadbeds, heat-generating equipment. and for breakwaters as larger pieces. The Cement combination of recycling activities for Air Reinforcing 8-16% Steel reinforcing steel and concrete make it a Improved Indoor Air Quality 4-8% totally cradle-to-cradle building material Concrete contains no volatile organic 10% Minimized Minimized Recycled Materials The reinforcing steel used in concrete that is recognized by sustainable-design compounds (VOCs), improving indoor air Harvesting Impact Transportation Cost Source: Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute is virtually 100% recycled from other organizations worldwide. quality. Because it is inorganic, it also Concrete is made primarily from naturally Concrete manufacturers, steel mills and April 2008 metal products. Likewise, cement often does not promote mold growth. occurring and readily available materials: reinforcing bar fabricators are located water, sand, and gravel. Suppliers of concrete throughout the country, and they is replaced by supplemental cementitious Reduced Waste products also are replacing significant typically use locally available materials. materials that otherwise would enter Concrete components typically are cast Low Maintenance Thus, cost to transport ingredients or the waste stream. This contribution by as specified, with little excess produced. Reinforced concrete’s durability also amounts of cement in their mixtures with finished products to the site are minimized. reinforced concrete in providing recycled What waste accrues through cutouts, requires little patching or cleaning, industrial by-products such as fly ash, silica Virtually all of reinforced concrete materials is recognized by LEED. etc., can be recycled. Many steel eliminating the need for harsh fume, and blast-furnace slag. Use of these components can be made within 500 miles and concrete plants have instituted chemical cleaners or other materials, by-products in concrete removes them from of the construction site, a key element More than 7 million tons of scrap steel is water-recycling programs and other lowering overall maintenance cost. landfills and reduces cement use, while in in achieving LEED points. many cases producing an even more durable recycled into reinforcing bars every year, environmental processes to further concrete. virtually the entire feedstock. This recycling reduce the manufacturing impact. Design Flexibility Aesthetic Variety Reinforced concrete offers flexibility Reinforced concrete can replicate the to design dramatic architectural look of many types of stone that would shapes with long-span capability. This be costly to quarry and transport. Thin can deliver open interior layouts, bricks can be embedded in concrete walls creating flexibility in design spaces to resemble masonry, significantly reduc- and providing the ability to install ing material use and cost. Logos, names, equipment quickly. As usage changes, and other decorations can be cast into the steel reinforced concrete elements concrete, eliminating material costs and Building Greens can be modified to allow buildings maintenance for these added elements. to expand, cutting costs and reusing material. Significant with Reinforced Concrete Social Benefits Reduced Floor Heights Reinforced concrete provides high fire virtually 100% recyclable product, provides cradle-to-cradle construction. Reinforced concrete framing systems resistance, lower noise transmission, offer substantially lower floor-to-floor and vibration dampening—creating heights, creating energy-efficient safe, secure, comfortable designs. designs that may be able to add Combined with its ability to build revenue-generating floors to the build- taller and closer to city centers, ing while meeting zoning restrictions improved indoor air quality, wind on height. resistance, indoor comfort and other amenities, reinforced concrete can help boost productivity, worker satisfaction and offer a higher quality “greener” way of life.