Though concrete is often not the most environmentally friendly product to make, being carbon-intensive, it does have a number of benefits. Concrete’s mass helps store thermal energy, and it’s durable, so it requires very little maintenance and has a long life.
Lu and the team took steps to mitigate the downsides of concrete while drawing on its strengths, creating an insulated floor slab for the home. This “eco-slab” uses up to 60 percent cement replacement (utilizing waste products from other industries) and other recycled materials to reduce its ecological impact. In addition, recycled glass was seeded into the surface of the wet concrete, so the polished floor has a glimmer — a nice combination of style and substance.
Though concrete is often not the most environmentally friendly product to make, being carbon-intensive, it does have a number of benefits. Concrete’s mass helps store thermal energy, and it’s durable, so it requires very little maintenance and has a long life. Lu and the team took steps to mitigate the downsides of concrete while drawing on its strengths, creating an insulated floor slab for the home. This “eco-slab” uses up to 60 percent cement replacement (utilizing waste products from other industries) and other recycled materials to reduce its ecological impact. In addition, recycled glass was seeded into the surface of the wet concrete, so the polished floor has a glimmer — a nice combination of style and substance.
Q