Concrete is one of the most used substances in the world. As the world becomes more and more conscious about how our daily actions impact the environment around us, questions about concrete’s environmental sustainability undoubtedly come up. While concrete may not have the lightest carbon footprint, it does have several other characteristics which still make it a fantastic building material choice.
Concrete is green (is degradable in its early natural state), durable (lasts over 50 years), energy efficient (has a high thermal mass), and is recyclable (old concrete can be broken down and reused for other projects). Those characteristics are part of why green LEED certified buildings use concrete as their material of choice. The only downside to concrete is that its production facilitates the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Portland cement, an ingredient in concrete and the most widely used cement in the world, is created by heating limestone and other materials until they reach temperatures of 1450 degrees Celsius. This is process requires an immense amount of energy. For those looking to reduce their carbon footprint, there are a few novel forms of concrete which claim to be more environmentally friendly. Environmentally friendly cement is either created by using alternative ingredients or by designing an innovative production methodology that uses significantly less energy than traditional cement. These are a few of the most notable:
The Conco Companies are one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products. While we tackle projects both big and small, our experience includes providing the entire cast-in-place concrete for the Wilshire Grand, the tallest building west of the Mississippi, along with other notable projects. We serve California, Oregon, Washington State, Colorado and Nevada.
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Did you know that ancient cement masons built concrete structures in Egypt 3,600 years ago that are still standing today? Needless to say, cement masons are some of the oldest tradesmen who continue to this day to pass their skills on to the next generation via the apprenticeship model.
What does a Cement Mason do? Cement masons work on construction jobs and are responsible for pouring, smoothing, and perfecting concrete. Concrete construction work is physically challenging and cement masons are encouraged to stay in great physical shape. Becoming a Cement Mason Although there are some formal cement mason training programs, most learn their skills via a formal apprenticeship. Those who are interested in becoming a cement mason are encouraged to seek a mentor and become an apprentice. In most cases, finding an apprenticeship requires contacting a local cement mason union or association and inquiring about their programs. Cement Mason Opportunities at The Conco Companies At The Conco Companies, we are seeking qualified cement masons at all of our locations in Northern California, Southern California, Washington, and Colorado. With the exception of Colorado, these are all union positions with competitive wages, medical, and retirement benefits. Conco is one the nation’s largest cement contractor and our employees work on incredibly exciting projects every day. As a Conco cement mason, you will be working on a wide variety of projects including buildings, highway construction, bridges, tunnels, airports, drainage systems, and sanitation projects. See the Conco website for more details and contact information regarding our posting for cement masons. Conco’s mission is to be the best supplier of concrete services in the Western United States and to bring expertise, experience and quality to each project. We continue to upgrade and expand facilities to better serve the growing market for public works projects, commercial, parking structures, educational, and other construction development. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada. Source: bigfuture.collegeboard.org/careers/construction-cement-masons-concrete-finishers Many people think of concrete as an industrial or heavily commercial material. When many people think about concrete structures, images of parking lots, malls, and government buildings come to mind. Contrary to this belief, concrete is being used on some of the most modern, innovative structures on the planet. In fact, contemporary designers are even designing residential homes with bare concrete siding. Here is just a sample of contemporary innovations and uses for concrete.
Inflatable Buildings Engineers have developed a way to create an inflatable concrete structure. As bizarre as it sounds, the structure is crafted from a concrete “fabric” material. The material starts in a dry form, is then inflated with air, and then moistened with water to precipitate the hardening of the structure. The chemical reaction between this fabric material and the water, like traditional concrete, hardens the shell. While this technology is very much in its infancy, the potential applications are truly worth watching. Underground Homes The trend of survival prepping and “bunker” homes has indeed had an impact on the concrete market. In fact, outside of heartier materials such as steel and titanium, concrete is the material of choice for many underground homes. Not all underground homes are bunkers. Many contemporary designers create partially and fully underground concrete homes for their energy efficiency and ultra-modern aesthetic. Contemporary Concrete Residences Because of the strong minimalist aesthetic of many contemporary home designers, bare concrete homes are making a comeback. The sleek, complete silhouette of a solid concrete home is perfectly suited for the modern look. In addition to fully concrete residences, more and more homes are using concrete floors for their energy efficiency and excellent heat retention/distribution. The Conco Companies are one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products. While we tackle projects both big and small, our experience includes providing the entire cast-in-place concrete for the Wilshire Grand, the tallest building west of the Mississippi, along with other notable projects. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada. Source: asce.org/magazine/20151013-innovative-concrete-building-inflates/ The history of concrete is actually quite interesting. For example, did you know that the art and science of concrete was almost entirely lost after the fall of the Roman Empire? Concrete is, in fact, an ancient material dating back thousands of years. From the earliest use of cement some twelve million years ago to the rediscovery of cement in the early 1700s, let’s review the little-known history of cement.
12 Million Years ago: Earliest known occurrence of cement. Deposits of cement were formed due to oil shale burning next to a bed of limestone. Although these deposits dated back millions of years, they were not discovered and researched until the 1970s. 6500 BC: The earliest concrete structures were built by the Nabataea or Bedouins traders who, literally, built an empire in Syria and northern Jordan. 5600 BC: Homes were being built along the Danube River (in what was formerly Yugoslavia) which used concrete floors. 700 BC: Kilns were being used to create mortar for the construction of homes, concrete floors, and water cisterns. 200 BC: The Romans built an empire out of concrete. Although their concrete was very rudimentary (almost plastic-like), they were also creative and created cement from volcanic sand. 125 AD: The Pantheon is erected. The structure has one the largest un-reinforced concrete domes ever created in history. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the art of Concrete was lost to mankind. 1756: The building blocks of concrete begin to re-emerge and John Smeaton rediscovers hydraulic cement. 1824: Joseph Aspdin invents Portland cement! The material was aptly named “Portland” cement because it resembled the building materials found in Portland, England. 1825: The commercial demand for concrete begins to soar. In the United States, the Erie Canal was commissioned to be built out of cement. The Conco Companies one of the foremost suppliers of concrete services for the Western U.S. We got our start in 1959 in the Bay Area by offering clients the best value on a broad range of concrete services and products. Since that time, we have taken a leading role as top concrete contractors in the region. We have four regional offices serving California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado and Washington. Concrete is one of the most popular building materials in the world and has maintained that popularity for centuries. What makes concrete so great and why has it been the staple building material since the ancient times? The answer includes a number of concrete’s distinct characteristics: long lasting durability, energy efficiency, cost effectiveness, proven safety, and sustainability. Let’s take a deeper look at each one of these characteristics of concrete.
Durability Concrete is a material that is made to last. It’s resistant to most environmental exposures (weathering, chemicals, and abrasion) while still maintaining its engineering properties. Energy Efficiency When combined with other energy efficient remedies (such as radiant heating and cooling), concrete can reduce the energy requirements of a building by as much as 30%. Affordability Taking lifespan, energy efficiency, and overall cost of the material into consideration, concrete offers one of the most cost-effective means of constructing an energy-efficient building. Safety Concrete is an extremely safe building material for humans and pets. The materials used to create concrete are inert, non-flammable, will not rot, will not mold, does not release gas, and helps fight the entry of pollutants into the structure. Sustainability Concrete creates a steady temperature environment because heat passes slowly through the material. As a result, less heating or air-conditioning is needed to maintain a comfortable temperature. Over the lifetime of the building, this amounts to less energy use and cheaper energy bills. Additionally, although concrete is not biodegradable, it can be recycled and easily repaired; thus, limiting the amount of concrete waste on the planet. Conco is one of the foremost suppliers of concrete services for the Western U.S. We got our start in 1959 in the Bay Area by offering clients the best value on a broad range of concrete services and products. Since that time, we have taken a leading role as top concrete contractors in the region. We have four regional offices serving California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado and Washington. Source: concretenetwork.com/concrete-homes/benefits.html Concrete has been used as a building material for centuries. From early ancient structures, such as the Pantheon and Coliseum, to modern day masterpieces concrete is the material of choice for durable, affordable, and versatile construction. While the world is filled with impressive concrete structures, some of the world’s most stunning structures can be found right here in the United States. Here are five that we think are pinnacles of modern concrete construction.
Grand Coulee Dam, Washington State Boasting over 47 billion pounds of concrete, the Grand Coulee Dam is one of the largest concrete structures in the world. With that much concrete, you could build a highway from Seattle to Miami! The Pentagon, Washington DC Much of the concrete filler for the Pentagon project was dredged from the grounds of the project and the Potomac River. In the end, the project used over one billion pounds of concrete. The Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas In 1999, the Venetian Hotel project captured the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous concrete pour at 21,000 cubic yards. Wilshire Grand, Los Angeles In February 2014, The Conco Companies conquered the Venetian Hotel’s continuous concrete pour world record of 21,000 cubic yards by 200 cubic yards on the Wilshire Grand project in Los Angeles. The 82 million pounds of concrete and was poured in just 18½ hours. Trump Tower International Hotel and Tower, Chicago The Trump Tower in Chicago, IL, completed in 2009, is the world’s tallest concrete-reinforced building. Weighing in at an impressive 720 million pounds of concrete, case studies have been dedicated to this incredible architectural feat. At The Conco Companies, we are one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products. Our experience includes providing services for commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada. Sources: constructionchat.co.uk/articles/heaviest-concrete-structures-in-the-world/, chicagotribune.com/2008-08-18/news/0808170445_1_trump-tower-concrete-trump-international-hotel Builders looking to work with environmentally conscious materials should look no further than concrete. Concrete is abundant, locally available, and conveniently highly energy efficient and sustainable. Don’t just take our word for it, check out these five facts about concrete’s sustainability and see why concrete outshines the rest.
Thermal Mass Thermal mass measures a materials capacity to absorb and release heat. Concrete has a high thermal mass, allowing it to absorb lots of heat and then release that heat slowly over time. This creates a consistent temperature (eliminates wild temperate fluctuations) and reduces the energy needs of the building. Emission Free Concrete is completely chemically inert once fully cured; thus, it does not contain any toxic chemicals nor will it release any harmful gases or toxic materials if it comes in contact with outside chemical agents. Recyclable Concrete can be broken down into an aggregate dust or large chunks and reused as material for roads, walls, and other applications. This, combined with a culture of recycling in the construction community, creates a situation where very little concrete ends up in landfills. This is great because concrete is not biodegradable. Cost Effective Given how durable, versatile, energy efficient, and low maintenance concrete is, it is one of the most cost-effective building materials to use in the long-term. Low Carbon Footprint Innovations in concrete, such as low carbon cement, combined with its unparalleled sustainability features listed above make concrete one of the lowest carbon footprint building materials. In fact, concrete is the building material of choice for LEED certified buildings: possibly contributing 20 points towards the minimum 26 points necessary to quality for LEED certification. Conco’s mission is to be the best supplier of concrete services in the Western United States and to bring expertise, experience and quality to each project. We continue to upgrade and expand facilities to better serve the growing market for public works projects, commercial, parking structures, educational, and other construction development. Concrete is one of the most utilized man-made materials on the planet. Used for buildings, sidewalks, and infrastructure worldwide, concrete is a hearty material comprised of a mixture of aggregates (any coarse particles used in construction) and paste. Common concrete aggregates include sand and gravel and common pastes are composed of water and cement. That’s right, contrary to popular belief; cement is actually an ingredient in concrete itself.
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, concrete and cement couldn’t be more different. Concrete is the material that we know and love, whereas cement is simply a binding agent used in approximately 15% of concrete to create its signature hardness. Cement is typically composed of finely ground limestone, silica, alumina, and iron oxide. Types of Cement There are two common forms of cement: hydraulic and non-hydraulic cement. Hydraulic cement hardens when it comes into contact with water and ultimately forms a water resistant barrier. This is the kind of cement most people are familiar with. Non-hydraulic cement does not harden when in the presence of water. The most common form of cement used in concrete, Portland cement, is a form of hydraulic cement. While most forms of Portland cement are very similar, there are varieties of cement which can be used for specific construction needs:
Conco’s mission is to be the best supplier of concrete services in the Western United States and to bring expertise, experience and quality to each project. We continue to upgrade and expand facilities to better serve the growing market for public works projects, commercial, parking structures, educational, and other construction development. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada. A concrete pump is a machine which transfers mixed concrete (i.e. in liquid form) through pipes via a pumping action. Previously, when concrete was needed on a jobsite the materials were mixed onsite and transported via wheelbarrow or bucket. As you can imagine, this method became very tiresome and expensive for large-scale projects such as high-rises. Thankfully, in 1927 Max Giese and Fritz Hull designed a solution which pumps concrete through pipes from a single concrete source (this design was improved upon in 1957 with dual hydraulic cylinders and remains the standard design today).
Types of Concrete Pumps There are two main types of concrete pumps: boom pumps and transport pumps. A boom pump is a concrete pump with a remote-controlled “boom” arm attached and a line pump is a concrete pump that is attached to a vehicle. The principle difference between these two types of concrete pumps comes down to the additional appendage equipment attached to the pump and volume. Boom pumps can pump at higher volumes than transport pumps and are typically used for larger projects. Other concrete pump variations include:
Outside of the increased convenience of having concrete pumped to the worksite, concrete pumps offer a number of additional benefits over manual methods. First and foremost, concrete pumps allow for a steady and precise flow of material creating a smooth finish. These tools also help to save time, reduce worker fatigue, and improve the quality of the concrete. The Conco Companies are one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products. While we tackle projects both big and small, our experience includes providing the complete concrete package for the Levi’s Stadium along with other notable projects. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada. Ever wonder what happens to all of that concrete after a large demolition or construction project? While it was once commonplace to find this discarded concrete in landfills across the globe, today more and more companies are acknowledging the environmental benefits of recycling concrete. Each year, over 265 gallons of cement is manufactured for each person on the planet. To put that into context, the United States produces over 325 million tons of concrete demolition waste each year and recycles close to 140 million tons of concrete, thus, not only can concrete be recycled, it is highly recommended.
Recycled concrete remains cost effective and environmentally conscious. The environmental benefits of recycling concrete include:
Concrete Recycling Process Surprisingly simple, the concrete recycling process involves breaking down concrete into large pieces, small pieces, or fine particles to be reused for other construction needs. The process of recycling concrete is actually quite simple: Step 1: Concrete is collected at the worksite and broken down into smaller pieces using a crushing machine. Step 2: Non-concrete materials, such as rebar, are sorted from the debris using magnets and other methods. Step 3: All aggregate pieces are sorted by size. Larger pieces can be used for erosion control or put through the crushing machine again for further refinement. Smaller pieces can be used as gravel or a base layer for asphalt. The Conco Companies are one of the foremost suppliers of concrete services for the Western U.S. We got our start in 1959 in the Bay Area by offering clients the best value on a broad range of concrete services and products. Since that time, we have taken a leading role as top concrete contractors in the region. We have four regional offices serving California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado and Washington. Source: http://www.wbcsdcement.org/pdf/CSI-RecyclingConcrete-FullReport.pdf |
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