Portland cement concrete is the most widely used human-made material and makes up approximately 40% by mass of everything we produce. At the same time, it is responsible for 5 to 10% of the global anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Portland cement, the most critical ingredient of concrete, is made of the most available elements in Earth’s continental crust, as well as in other terrestrial planets. There is a massive infrastructure, labor force, design guides, specifications, and standards all around the world to produce and build with concrete. These are very difficult and slow to change. In short, there is no radically ingenious idea or material that can displace Portland cement concrete. So how can we significantly reduce the environmental impact of concrete construction? The answer is (1) by high-volume replacement of Portland cement with pozzolanic materials including widely-abundant clays, limestones, and unconventional fly ashes; and (2) by extending the durability and service-life of existing and new structures. This research poster elaborates on these solutions and provides examples of emerging ecologically-efficient concretes within the American Mid-Atlantic region.
