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Green Applications for Concrete In and Around the Home

By Anne Balogh

From the foundation to the roof, concrete and other cement-based products can make a significant contribution to making homes more sustainable, safe, and comfortable.

The concrete wall construction (left) of this 5-Star Energy Rated Home (right) maximizes energy efficiency, decreases noise levels and offers design flexibility.
Photo Courtesy of Reward Wall Systems.

Concretes strength and thermal mass result in structures that are highly energy efficient and easy to maintain. Concrete also resists weather extremes, tornado-force winds, mold, insect damage, and fire. And homeowners can obtain all these benefits without sacrificing design flexibility. Not only is concrete a moldable material, able to assume nearly any shape, its appearance can be transformed by applying various finish treatments or using environmentally friendly stains or other pigments.

Walls. There are four different concrete wall systems you can use to form the basic structure of a sustainable home: Cast-in-place concrete walls (where the forms are removed once the concrete hardens), precast panels, concrete blocks, and insulating concrete forms (ICFs). With ICF walls, the concrete is pumped between two layers of polystyrene foam insulation, so they offer outstanding insulating values (R-17 to R-26, compared with R-9 to R-15 for a typical wood-frame wall). Richard Rue of Energy Wise Systems, a mechanical engineer specializing in energy-efficient construction, says you can heat and cool three ICF homes for every house built with a typical 2x4 wood frame and fiberglass insulation.

Pouring concrete into the insulating concrete forms.
Photo Courtesy of Portland Cement Association.

Several types of ICF systems are available, but all offer similar benefits. The superior insulation, airtightness, and mass of the walls cut the amount of energy needed for heating by as much as 44% and cooling by as much as 32% when compared with wood-frame homes, according to PCA. ICF homes also are less drafty and maintain more even temperatures.

Building using ICF Construction.
Photo Courtesy of Reward Wall Systems.

Other benefits of concrete walls:

They keep out noise. About one-sixth as much sound travels through an ICF wall compared with an ordinary wood-framed wall.
They can be covered with most standard exterior finishes (including siding, stucco, brick, and stone) to blend seamlessly with other homes in the neighborhood.

Floors. Concrete floors, when left exposed, can function both as the foundation slab and finished floor. This eliminates the need for carpeting and other floor coverings that would eventually require replacement. To enhance the appearance of the floor and make it easier to maintain, it can be stained and sealed with nontoxic products (read more about decorative concrete flooring options

Stained concrete interior floors are easy to maintain, can absorb,
store and release heat, and can be aesthetically appealing.
Photo Courtesy of Verlennich Masonry & Concrete.

Because of their thermal mass, concrete floors also are key elements in passive solar home designs, which use high-thermal-mass materials to collect and store radiant energy. Most new homes in California, for example, are constructed on a concrete slab, according to the California Energy Commission.

In winter, concretes thermal mass absorbs heat by direct sunlight through properly oriented windows. At night, the concrete releases the stored heat to warm rooms. In colder climates, passive solar heating can be supplemented by energy-efficient radiant in-floor heating systems.

Exterior flatwork. Using cast-in-place concrete or decorative interlocking concrete pavers to build residential sidewalks, driveways, and patios offers a multitude of environmental benefits. Installing a concrete patio rather than a wood deck saves lumber and eliminates the need for regular maintenance with solvent-based wood stains and sealers. Because of their light color, concrete slabs also have higher light reflectivity than asphalt pavements, reducing urban heat-island effects. In areas where stormwater management and reducing pollution runoff are concerns, pervious concrete is a viable solution. This porous paving material also channels more water to tree roots and landscaping, so there is less need for irrigation. (Read more about the environmental benefits of pervious concrete.)

Roofing. Precast concrete roof tiles need minimal maintenance and provide long-lasting protection from the elements. They have a life span of 50 years or longer, compared with 25 years or less for standard asphalt- or fiberglass-based shingles. More important, the tiles are noncombustible and wont burn when exposed to flames or sparks. For homeowners who want a traditional look, concrete tiles are available in a variety of classic styles such as barrel, shake, and slate profiles.

Exterior finishes. Stucco (or Portland cement plaster) has been used for many decades as an exterior finish material for homes and buildings, but it is gaining new appreciation for its many sustainable qualities, including fire resistance, excellent weathering characteristics, low maintenance, and resistance to rot, mold and termite infestation. A newer cement-based cladding material is also gaining a strong foothold in the residential market. Called fiber-cement siding (a composition of cement, sand, and cellulose fiber), this product offers performance benefits similar to stucco yet looks like traditional wood clapboard siding.

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