Concrete is a vital component of the construction of our roads, buildings and communities. For decades, it has been one of the most widely used building materials. But its production and use can have an impact on our environment as well, with some claiming that concrete is a contributor to global warming. This article examines concrete’s potential role in causing global warming, considering the positive and negative implications of its usage.
At its core, concrete is a combination of cement, sand, and gravel and other materials which, when set and solidified, become a building material with great compressive strength. To produce the components of concrete, the materials need to be heated. During this process, a significant amount of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. This is thought to contribute towards the warming of the earth, as the carbon dioxide functions as a heat-trapping greenhouse gas.
In addition, when concrete is set and hardened, it absorbs a great deal of heat, leading to the formation of urban heat islands. The heat absorbed by the concrete is reflected in the form of an exaggerated temperature in urban environments compared to those in rural or wilderness areas. This further contributes to global warming on a localized level, trapping heat in the environment.
However, it is important to note that concrete has many advantages as a building material for structures. For one, concrete structures are potentially more resilient than structures founded on other building materials such as wood, metal or brick. As such, if natural disasters occur, concrete can offer more protection against destruction, as well as providing a level of stability and peace of mind. This can ultimately improve the quality of life in communities where natural disaster risks are high.
In addition, concrete is an incredibly versatile material that can be used in any number of applications. This allows for optimal design flexibility. Furthermore, concrete production is mostly automated, so its affordability and availability can overcome construction challenges due to manual labor limitations.
Concrete has many benefits, but it does not deny the fact that its production can have an effect on global warming. The potential risk posed by concrete-produced carbon dioxide emissions, along with heat absorbed from set and hardened concrete, should be taken into account when selecting and using building materials. Even then, the potential of strategies such as reducing the amount of concrete and introducing technological alternatives may be useful in regulating concrete-related emissions.
Concrete plays an important role in the construction of our cities and is likely to remain a popular building material of choice. However, the environmental impacts of concrete-caused global warming should be taken seriously. If efforts are made to reduce the amount of concrete used and introduce other materials, the likelihood of global warming increases can be minimized. With further research and thoughtful action, concrete can continue to play a vital role in construction while helping protect the environment.
