13.6 : Design Example: Sustainability in Concrete Building

As the construction industry moves towards more eco-friendly practices, concrete's adaptability and its ability to incorporate sustainable features make it a key material in the drive towards greener building solutions.

There are multiple approaches to achieve sustainability in a commercial concrete building. For instance, construct a concrete parking area under the building, utilizing pervious concrete paver blocks in open areas to facilitate rainwater collection through an underground cistern. This water is then reused for gardening, enhancing water efficiency. Additionally, using ready-mixed concrete made from regional materials, slag cement, fly ash, or recycled aggregates reduces material costs, and reinforcements from recycled steel all promote material recovery.

For the building itself, using exposed concrete for walls, floors, and ceilings minimizes the need for paints and coatings, thereby reducing VOC emissions and enhancing indoor air quality. Moreover, concrete's thermal mass properties can be harnessed to regulate indoor temperatures. Concrete roofing materials with high solar reflectance or insulated concrete systems are recommended to lower air conditioning demands by mitigating heat absorption. Also, designs incorporating large column-free spaces and shallow floor depths to maximize natural daylight are possible in concrete buildings.