Pavement Solutions provide construction, maintenance, and repairs for asphalt and concrete pavement surfaces on commercial properties nationwide. We are also committed to using environmentally friendly materials and practices.
The designed asphalt solutions with the base layer consisting of CDW or FA significantly reduce embodied carbon in the road section and minimize energy, natural resources, and raw materials consumption. LCA methodology was used to evaluate the life cycle impacts of these innovative eco-designed asphalt mixtures.
Permeable pavements are an alternative to concrete for road, path, and parking lot surfaces that reduce the amount of stormwater runoff. They allow rainwater and melting snow to infiltrate the ground rather than run off into storm drains, which can pollute lakes, rivers, and other water bodies. Pervious asphalt, interlocking concrete block paving, and plastic modular grid pavers are examples of these types of paving.
When properly designed and maintained, these paving options are effective in reducing the concentration of pollutants either physically (by trapping them in the paved surface or soil) or chemically (by allowing bacteria to break them down). They also help to restore a more natural hydrological balance between the built and natural environment by slowing down the rate at which water discharges from the land.
These paved alternatives can be laid in many different ways, depending on the design goals. For example, they can consist of a deep underlying reservoir that is filled with open-graded crushed rock for quality and quantity control of stormwater runoff. The reservoir is usually connected to a wet pond or a drainage system that discharges into a receiving water body. This type of permeable pavement requires extensive maintenance and monitoring.
Other options include permeable pavers or asphalt that have been constructed with a special asphalt that is porous, and has an organic base or resin to help keep the particles together. These can also be topped with an overflow pipe that connects to the street drainage system. These paving solutions can be particularly useful in commercial and residential areas where the traffic volume is low.
While the benefits of these paving systems are numerous, they are not without challenges. For instance, they can be prone to clogging if the water stored in the reservoir is not drained quickly. In order to prevent this from occurring, the paving should be designed with an adequate surface slope, which is typically about 1 percent. It is also important to have an alternate means of drainage if the permeable surface becomes completely clogged during an intense storm event.
Recycled Materials
The use of recycled materials can be an effective way to provide an alternative to concrete for construction projects. Recycled material can help reduce the amount of materials needed to complete a project, which in turn lowers construction costs and helps the environment by reducing landfill waste. The use of recycled materials also reduces the need for extraction of new materials, which further benefits the environment.
Recycled concrete can be used as an aggregate in concrete mixtures, providing an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to natural gravel. It can also reduce the need for cement, a major raw material in concrete production. Concrete recycling is a widely used practice around the world, and it is estimated that over one third of all concrete in the United States is made with recycled material.
Many types of recycled materials can be used in the production of concrete. These include industrial co-products and by-products such as silica fume (SF), fly ash, and blast furnace slag. These admixtures are beneficial for concrete production because they provide good pozzolanic activity and improve the hydraulic properties of the concrete. In addition, these materials are usually readily available at a reasonable price and can be easily incorporated into concrete production.
Another type of recycled material is sawdust, which can be used to create a concrete-like substance that is both lightweight and durable. This material is created by mixing ground up sawdust with lime or sand. It also uses less cement than regular concrete, which further helps the environment by reducing the amount of cement needed for the same amount of structure.
This material can be used in place of conventional concrete for certain applications, including load-bearing structures and bridge decks. It can also be used to produce precast elements, such as paving blocks.
There are a variety of initiatives and programs at the federal, state, and local level that promote the use of recycled materials in construction. For example, the US Environmental Protection Agency formulated policies and funding programs that encourage the recycling of construction waste. Additionally, some states have enacted legislation and funding programs that endorse the use of recycled concrete aggregates in road construction projects.
Environmentally Friendly Materials
Concrete is a popular construction material that is used in a wide variety of projects. However, concrete has a heavy ecological footprint and requires a lot of energy to produce. Fortunately, there are many environmentally friendly materials that can provide an alternative to concrete.
Eco-friendly alternatives are often derived from waste products that would otherwise be landfilled or burned for energy. These supplemental materials are used to replace some of the cement in a concrete mixture, thus cutting down on carbon emissions. These supplementary materials include fly ash, blast furnace slag and silica fumes. Using these materials in the construction process also cuts down on cost.
Blast furnace slag is a glassy granular material that can replace up to 70% of the cement in a concrete mix. It can reduce the amount of water used in the mixing process and can increase the durability of the concrete. It is a great option for greener building and can be used in concrete pavements, bridges and embankments.
Another environmentally friendly alternative to concrete is timbercrete, which uses a combination of wood shavings and concrete. The result is a lightweight building material that does not emit as much CO2. In addition, it is resistant to fire and has excellent sound insulation.
Alternatively, recycled post-consumer glass is a good substitute for aggregate in concrete mixes. It can be reused several times without losing its strength and can cut down on consumer landfill waste. It can also improve the durability of the concrete, preventing cracking and chipping.
Other environmentally friendly materials include silica fumes, sand and recycled plastics. Silica fumes are a byproduct of steel production that can be used in place of 6% to 12% of the cement in concrete. It can also improve the durability of the resulting concrete, making it more resistant to chemicals.
Lastly, recycled plastics can be used in place of 10% to 20% of the cement in concrete mixes. This not only cuts down on environmental impact, but it can also save money on transport costs as well as labour. Besides these options, there are other eco-friendly materials that are under development. For example, a British manufacturer is creating a carbon dioxide absorbing concrete made of magnesium sulfate. This new kind of concrete can absorb up to 0.6 tons of CO2 per cubic meter, compared to traditional concrete which only produces 0.4 tons per cubic meter.
Energy Efficient Materials
There are a number of energy efficient materials that can provide an alternative to concrete. Ferrock is one example, which can be used in load-bearing structures and offers high durability that holds up well to traffic. It also sequesters CO2 from the air and makes it stable into minerals, creating a positive impact on our environment.
Another option is ashcrete, which uses fly ash, borate and bottom ash as its primary components. It’s a cost-effective alternative to traditional cement, and has been shown to be more environmentally friendly than concrete.
Other alternatives include Timbercrete, which consists of sawdust and concrete. It’s lighter than concrete, which reduces emissions from transportation and repurposes wood waste. Blast furnace slag is an energy-efficient material that can replace 70 % to 80 % of the cement and enhances concrete durability.
