CRC Press The Sustainable Use of Concrete

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. Review "It is a useful reference book [and] gives a good overview of the subject. The level of writing is suitable for an undergraduate materials or civil engineering student."―Dr. Jacqueline Glass, Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Sustainable Construction, Loughborough University, UK "… a logical approach … would definitely buy it – authoritative and forward looking … A rigorous approach to best practice … an excellent book with plenty of useful info and well conducted research and analysis ..."―Martin Clarke, Chief Executive, British Precast Concrete Federation "… presents guidelines on how to move toward sustainable concrete construction. … Ultimately, it provides guidance for creating a world that is safe for both humans and the environment."―Concrete international, June 2013 About the Author Koji Sakai is a Professor at Kagawa University, Japan. He chairs ISO/TC71/SC8 on environmental management for concrete and concrete structures, fib commission 3 on environmental aspects of design and construction, and the Japan Concrete Institute Technical Committee on sustainability. Takafumi Noguchi is an Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo, Japan and secretary of ISO/TC71/SC8, fib commission 3, and the Japan Concrete Institute Technical Committee on sustainability