Concrete rates highly when the architect reviews both the LCA and LCC factors. When concrete buildings are designed appropriately, they offer much lower predictable operational energy (heating, cooling, and lighting) and maintenance costs per year over other building materials throughout the life of a building.

 

The embodied energy is reduced by replacing portland cement with supplementary cementitious materials like fly ash and slag cement.

 

How Concrete Contributes to Sustainable Design and LEED Credits

There are several sustainable initiatives, which have established performance and rating models for building materials.

The most widely adopted green building rating system in the United States is the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, which provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction. For the purposes of this continuing education course, concrete and cementitious building materials' contribution to sustainable construction will focus upon LEED Version 2.2 for New Construction and Major Renovation.

Sustainable Sites (SS)

Brownfield Redevelopment (SS Credit 3; 1 point)
Intent: Rehabilitate damaged sites where development is complicated by environmental contamination, reducing pressure on undeveloped land.

Cement and SCMs  are  often used as construction components for brownfield redevelopment. Solidification and/or stabilization of damaged sites can be achieved by mixing cementitious materials with contaminated media or encapsulating waste particles with an impermeable coating.

 Site ­Development Protect or Restore Habitat (SS Credit 5.1)
Intent: Conserve existing natural areas and restore damaged areas to provide habitat and promote biodiversity.

Site Development Maximize Open Space (SS Credit 5.2) 
Intent: Provide a high ratio of open space to development footprint to promote biodiversity.

The use of concrete and cementitious-based building materials  can contribute to maximizing open space and limiting site disturbance by design and during construction. Underground or under-building concrete parking structures reduce the amount of land needed for parking lots.

Stormwater Management: Quantity and Quality Control (SS Credit 6.1 and Credit 6.2; 1-2 points)
Intent: Limit disruption of natural water hydrology by reducing impervious cover, increasing on-site infiltration, reducing or eliminating pollution from stormwater runoff, and eliminating contaminants.

Surface run-off causes flooding, damage to waterways and diminishes groundwater levels. Because it is not filtered through the ground on its way to rivers and coastal waters, it also carries pollutants such as pesticides, toxic chemicals and, in some older cities with combined sewers, sewage.