by Rebecca Walker — December 15, 2010—The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently released preliminary research findings that will help set a new standard in life-cycle assessment (LCA) modeling for building materials. The studies, which are part of an ongoing research initiative at the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub, will quantify the cradle-to-grave environmental costs of paving and building materials, and will ultimately result in the most comprehensive LCA model produced to date, according to MIT.
The report finds potential for significant fuel efficiency savings for vehicles on concrete pavements over asphalt, which could lead to substantially lower life-cycle CO2 emissions.
In addition, there are measurable differences between alternative construction systems, and the thermal mass of concrete can provide energy savings over a life cycle of 75 years.
“This groundbreaking research highlights the dramatic cost savings for builders, homeowners, municipal governments and taxpayers. The preliminary research shows that not only do concrete homes, buildings and roads last longer, but using these materials provides energy savings and a reduction of carbon emissions,” said Gilberto Perez, President of CEMEX USA.
MIT is set to release a follow-up study in 2011 that analyzes the economic costs of building and paving materials. This will provide the most comprehensive analysis of the total costs of building and paving materials.
MIT is a world-renowned leader in research, education, and higher learning. Established in 2009, MIT’s Concrete Sustainability Hub is a collaborative effort to integrate the best science on concrete and similar materials into industry practices. The study is available online.
CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries throughout the world. For more on the company, see the Web site.
