There are many items that say they are environmentally friendly. Why are your concrete counters considered a "green" building product? Steve, Greenfield MA
Wow Steve!
This is a big question and Big Al is going to give you a big answer. This is not only a question asked by customers all the time but, it is a question we ask ourselves every day. There is a growing number of companies crowing about their products and services being green. We approach these claims with caution when we buy our materials and plan our projects.
There are differing opinions on the environmental impact of concrete.
Concrete can be considered to be a green material for countertops when compared to other solid surface materials. That being said, all concrete countertops are not created equal as far as the measure they affect the environment. There are no hard rules on what is green and what isn't so, here are the things that Big Al considers when he determines whether something is green or not.
What is the carbon footprint of the project? Concrete has one dubious component, portland cement. There is a pound of carbon-dioxide for every pound of portland cement manufactured. The portion of portland cement accounts for about a quarter of the mass of the concrete used in our countertops. We can safely reduce this amount by thirty to forty percent by adding flyash or other pozzolans. Aggregates made from recycled materials such as glass, coal slag or reclaimed concrete will make the product greener. Manufacturing processes that reduce waste and energy consumption also will green up the project. Last of all, using a local material instead of something that is made from petroleum or is shipped halfway around the world is an rule of thumb in determining if a product is green or not.
green as you want it,
Big Al
