BUILDING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT: THE U.S. CEMENT INDUSTRY AND ITS ROLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

From highways and houses to sidewalks and stadiums, products made of concrete and other construction materials are part of our everyday lives. Yet most of us never think about whether some construction materials are better for the environment than others. Concrete is the key component of all construction, and cement is the key ingredient of concrete. It's the glue that binds this mixture of sand, water, and stone into a rock-like mass. The U.S. cement industry is committed to environmental stewardship. It has a strong track record in minimizing emissions, wastes, and energy use. But this commitment goes beyond safe and efficient operations. Cement and concrete have environmental benefits that affect all of us. Cement plants recover energy from wastes such as scrap tires, disposable diapers, and wooden pallets, safely disposing of these wastes while reducing fossil fuel use. Industrial byproducts from coal combustion and steel making are recycled as raw materials for cement. Concrete products carry their own set of environmental benefits. Old concrete can be recycled into new concrete. In homes and buildings, concrete's thermal mass reduces the energy needed for heating and cooling. And concrete's sheer durability constitutes an environmental benefit. It won't rust, rot, or burn, saving resources needed to replace less durable materials. For the cement industry, environmental stewardship is an operating philosophy that shows up in every phase of manufacturing and in the final product - the concrete that builds our homes, high-rises, and highways.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Portland Cement Alliance

  1225 Eye Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20005

  Portland Cement Association

  5420 Old Orchard Road
  Skokie, IL  United States  60077
• Publication Date: 1999

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: 14 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality; Benefits; Cement; Cement industry; Concrete; Cooling; Durability; Dwellings; Energy consumption; Environmental protection; Environmental quality; Heating (Structures); Highways; Multistory structures; Pollutants; Products; Recycled materials; Recycling; Sand; Stone; Waste disposal; Waste minimization; Water
• Subject Areas: Construction; Energy; Environment; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Terminals and Facilities; I32: Concrete;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00792169
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: SP337
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 4 2000 12:00AM